Emergency building work needs to be done on the former Gamestation store in Nottingham city centre before any new business takes over.
Nottingham City Council has given the go-ahead for urgent works on the Grade-II listed building along Angel Row off Market Square.
The four-storey building contains an empty retail unit on the ground floor, an attic, storage and office spaces to the upper floors and a cellar.
The unit will be taken over by a new retailer once building works are complete, documents say.
It was once home to the former Gamestation store, which closed in 2012.
Applicant Johal Pension Fund submitted a planning application in February 2020 to refurbish and repair the ground floor shopfront, which were completed in 2022.
However, the building remained in a “deteriorating state of repair”, documents say.
The applicant submitted another planning application for further works on the building in March this year,
The council approved plans on Monday, April 28.
Emergency repairs will now take place on the interior and exterior of the entire building, including the cellar, ground floor and alleyway.
This is to prevent its “structural failure” and stop further “deterioration”, documents say.
Planning documents read: “Listed Building consent is sought for permanent structural and non-structural emergency works to the interior of the building at basement, ground and external alleyway.
“Following a structural survey being undertaken, a number of works were identified which urgently need to be undertaken on grounds of safety in order to stop continuing deterioration and prevent structural failure.
“The works are required for the building to be accessed and occupied safely, including an incoming tenant for the ground floor commercial use.”
Works will include structural steelwork to the interior of building and new plasterboard to the ceiling and ground floor.
The majority of works will take place in the basement, with a “small number” of refurbishments to the ground floor and alleyway.
Planning documents read: “Works range from new joists, new steel lintels and new structural steelwork requirements to provide support to the existing Oak Floor Beam.
“Repointing of the existing brick barrel vault with lime mortar is proposed and an application of new plasterboard to part of ceiling at ground floor.”
The ground floor of the building will be taken over by a new retailer once building works are completed, document say.
The name of the store is not yet known.
Building works will ensure the future tenant can access and occupy the premises “safely”, while retaining the “character” of the Grade-II listed building.
Documents read: “The impact of the works upon traditional fabric of interest has been minimised, with practical solutions well-worked around the character of the basement and ground floor.
“Together, the works form the next stage of ensuring that the ground floor retail unit can fulfil its optimal viable use as a shop for the first time in many years.
“The character of the listed building would not be adversely affected by the proposed works.”
Gamestation was a chain of retail shops across the country selling used and new video games.
It was acquired by the Game Group in 2007.
In 2012, the Game Group went into administration and a number of Gamestation stores, including Nottingham City’s Gamestation store, were closed.
Game and Gamestation were then purchased from the administrators by OpCapita.
OpCapita rebranded all remaining Gamestation stores under the Game name – putting an end to the Gamestation brand entirely.
