J Tomlinson is working with Erewash Borough Council to undertake a highly-anticipated redevelopment scheme across Toll Bar House — one of the most distinctive buildings in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. The major renovation scheme is expected to create over 90 local jobs and increase local productivity.
Located on a main arterial road in the town of Ilkeston, Derbyshire, Toll Bar House was built in 1930 for the Derbyshire and Nottingham Electric Power Company. The building was since acquired by Erewash Building Council and rented to public sector organisations — the most recent being the NHS Erewash Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) — before being declared ‘unlettable’ by the council in 2020 due to its age and non-energy efficient design.
The three-storey building, known for its Crescent-shaped design, is set to undergo a comprehensive refurbishment scheme that will form 22 managed offices, including kitchen and bathroom facilities. The works will provide future occupants of Toll Bar House with the flexibility to combine spaces to create larger letting units, with the aim of creating high value jobs in the local area.
The project, which commenced in early February, has received £425,000.00 worth of funding from D2N2’s Local Growth Fund, which supports projects that ‘benefit the local area and economy’.
D2N2 Interim Chair David Williams said: “D2N2 is delighted to invest in the renovations of Toll Bar House to help meet the growing need for high-quality office space in Ilkeston.”
“Whilst the recovery from Coronavirus is at the forefront of our collective minds, we must not forget our need to limit our contribution to climate change, so I’m especially pleased to see that environmentally friendly considerations are at the heart of this redevelopment.”
Set to complete in late summer, the project will focus on modernising and future-proofing the 81-year-old building, with J Tomlinson undertaking specialist energy and water efficiency upgrades to improve the Toll Bar House’s environmental rating and lower carbon emissions, whilst helping to contribute to EBC’s target to decarbonise its assets by 2050. The programmed improvements span upgrades to heating, lighting and water systems, window replacements, and new thermal insulation.
Councillor Michael Powell, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Regeneration and Planning, commented: “In these challenging times that we still face, this is such good news and we thank all our partners for getting this vital project underway. Toll Bar House is such a landmark building and it is a credit to all involved that work has started in these difficult times to transform it and offer high quality office space and allow the opportunity to attract new businesses to our borough.”
“It is difficult to put a price on this project — it will be priceless to local business.”
Iain Davies, Managing Director of J Tomlinson’s refurbishment and engineering division, added: “We are delighted to have commenced works at Toll Bar House. When the internal upgrades have been completed, this iconic building will be ideal for new and existing businesses, located in the busy town of Ilkeston, which has convenient links to both Derby and Nottingham.”
Header image shows Councillor Carol Hart, Leader of Erewash Borough Council (front left – high vis #6), Councillor Michael Powell, Lead Member for Regeneration and Planning at Erewash Borough Council (high vis #4), Councillor Dan Pitt, Lead Member for Town Centres at Erewash Borough Council (front, right) and Iain Davies, Managing Director (Refurbishment & Engineering) at J Tomlinson Ltd (back, far left). alongside other officers and representatives from J Tomlinson Ltd.
