A multi-million pound entertainment complex in the heart of Beeston is set to open in January – four months behind schedule.
Broxtowe Borough Council wants to create Beeston’s answer to ‘Nottingham’s Cornerhouse’ to attract thousands of people to the town.
Four new businesses including a games bar and restaurant were set to open under the Beeston Arc cinema over the August Bank Holiday.
But the units below the cinema still remain empty with one business pulling out of the development.
Councillors are set to discuss the progress being made at the site at a Policy and Performance committee on Thursday, December 2.
Cllr Milan Radulovic (Lab), leader of Broxtowe Borough Council, said the delay has been out of the local authority’s control.
He said the £14m development, which has been paid for by the council, is set to open this January and will be a top visitor destination.
The project is part of a wider £50m Beeston Square development scheme, which includes the building of 132 flats opposite the cinema site.
Leases for three empty units around the cinema development have now been completed and fitting out works have commenced.
The council said due to ‘supply chain and labour difficulties’ the businesses are not likely to be trading until early 2022.
The council said there has been ‘strong interest’ in the final unit after popular dessert business, DoughNotts, decided not to proceed.
The company does have a site in High Road, Beeston.
Cllr Radulovic said he cannot name the businesses yet, but it will be a mix of restaurants, food outlets and a games bar.
Additional investment is also being sought to bring the former Argos block up to a suitable standard for re-letting.
Plans are to divide the building to accommodate two shops and to also create a community hub within the building for local charitable groups.
There are also plans for the building to contain bleed kits, defibrillators, and a glucose station for any medical emergencies that happen in the town.
Work will start on this site in February, according to the council.
Plans to open public toilets near the cinema development will be brought to a council committee on 9 December as tendered costs have been “significantly higher than anticipated.”
Cllr Radulovic said the project has been delivered on budget and remains on target to be self-financing despite the impact of Covid-19 on rental values.
He said: “There was a great deal of concern, but we were never in doubt about the final project.
“The only concern we had in the pandemic was attracting appropriate investors and these fears were allayed when leases were signed.
“Covid is one of the reasons (for the delay) but it is not the primary reason.
“It is signing leases and finance arrangements and sorting out labour materials, but it looks set to open in January.
“We were hoping for Christmas. Virtually every unit has got more than interest and that is what we are now sorting through.
“It will be a fabulous development and it will attract thousands of people all over the area, particularly by public transport such as the trams.”