URGENT action has been called for to spruce up a "gateway" to the city.
Canning Circus Conservation Area is today added to English Heritage's At Risk register – which highlights historic buildings in danger of falling in to disrepair.
It covers the Canning Circus junction and the area between Derby Road and Ilkeston Road, plus the General Cemetery and parts of Nottingham Trent University's campus and is one of 56 conservation areas at risk across the East Midlands according to this year's register.
The city council said it has invested around £1.5m in recent years to improve it.
But Nottingham Civic Society chairman Hilary Silvester said: "This area is quite far off the city centre, but nevertheless, it is the gateway to Nottingham if you're coming from the M1.
"Some of the buildings seem really neglected and dilapidated. I think the council should put more pressure on owners to tidy up their buildings or issue repair notices. The area looks rather rundown."
Councillor Nick McDonald, city council portfolio holder for jobs, skills and business, said the council had plans including improvements along Derby Road to encourage more pedestrians, and was in discussions with businesses and English Heritage, about a package of measures, adding: "This includes sprucing up shop fronts, the reoccupation of empty units, bringing upper floors back into use and generally enhancing some of the key buildings in the area."
Stuart Isbister, chairman of the business-led working group Derby Road Regeneration Project, said: "The key thing is that the council are listening to business."
English Heritage said it would support owners, developers and local groups to get more buildings and sites removed from the register.
Privately owned Beauvale Priory, in the grounds of Beauvale Abbey Farm in Moorgreen, has also been added to the register. The Carthusian monastery dates from 1343.
One Notts building to be removed this year is Annesley Old Church, in Annesley Park, after a £450,000 revamp.
To find out if a building is listed, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/list.
Which buildings would you like to see protected? E-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk
