PARTS of an old Victorian mill complex in Radford are set to be demolished in the next few months.
Old Radford Mill, off Ilkeston Road, has long been earmarked as a potential site for housing.
While there are no development proposals on the table, Nottingham City Council is planning to pull down a large part of the building at the back, which borders Denman Street Central and Norton Street.
The front part of the building, which can be seen from Ilkeston Road, will remain, as it is not owned by the council.
The council says it costs about £50,000 a year to maintain the empty building, which deteriorated in recent months and needed emergency repairs.
Some local residents say they will be sad to see the historic building disappear.
Michelle Burrows, 35, of Graham Street, in Radford, said: "I'd like to see it rejuvenated – it seems a waste to knock it down.
"I don't see why they won't just refurbish the building."
And Freddie Leeming, 64, of Baldwin Court in Radford said: "It's been standing empty for a long time. If they put shops there, it will be a good thing for the community.
"It's a shame that it's being knocked down, though. I remember the building when it was going strong."
But the city council says it is not financially viable to keep the mill. In a report, it says: "The property would be very difficult to sell due to the liabilities associated with it.
"In addition, the council would lose control of an important site that could influence the regeneration of the neighbourhood and be used for the provision of new housing."
It will cost the council about £400,000 to pull down the building. The site will then be bounded by security fencing.
The council had planned to demolish it in June 2008 but English Heritage carried out a spot check of the building to check it did not qualify for listed status, delaying the council's plans.
A spokeswoman for English Heritage said yesterday: "Radford Mills in Nottingham, although impressive in the local landscape, was not recommended for listing as it wasn't considered nationally historically or architecturally significant.
"The buildings are conventional in their form and character and the site underwent developments throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, resulting in the loss of both visual and functional coherence."
A city council spokesman said: "We are finalising details with the adjoining landowner and have a contractor lined up to carry out the demolition as soon as possible – either towards the end of this year or early next year.
"There are no firm proposals for the site as yet but it is earmarked for a family housing development."
Did you work at the mill? Tell us your memories. Call Delia Monk on 0115 9051959 or e-mail delia.monk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk
