Businesses and shoppers have demanded answers over the future of Nottingham's landmark Debenhams building.
The retailer in Long Row traded for the final time on May 4, 2021, before exiting the high street for good.
Debenhams had entered administration in April 2019 and then went into liquidation in December 2020, after failing to secure a buyer to save the chain.
The site has now been empty for over a year, with the current owners Altum Capital remaining silent on the future of the historic building.
Local businesses on Angel Row and Market Street said that they would welcome any development and that 'something should be done' by the owners.
Tejinder Singh, 35, the owner of Phone Garage on Market Street said: "Of course people need to know what is going on - it is an iconic building.
"We don't want to become a dead city.
"There are a lot of independent businesses on this street so it would be good if they could be put in there to bring people in.
"It would be a good idea for the newer parts to be spilt into several units, possibly council owned that could charge low business rates and help people get businesses into the city."
Ellen Fox, 27, who is the assistant manager of Cardzone on Angel Row, said: "It is a real shame that it is not being used at the minute.
"There's a lot of student stuff around already so we need a new shop, it is a great spot for something else.
"What that would be though I don't know, with it being such a big building I think the rent for any businesses would be huge."
Mayfair-based Altum Capital Investments bought the property in 2017 for £25.85m before letting the space to Debenhams.
Robin Bellingham, 52, co-owner of The Bead Shop, which has been on Market Street facing the store since 2005, said: "If anything was done with it that would absolutely be a draw for people into the city centre.
" They [The owners of the building] should do something with it now it has been too long.
"It should be divided into smaller lots for businesses that started during Covid to get a presence in the city centre."
Shoppers said that the empty building was taking away from Nottingham city centre.
Marion Siddons, 76, a retiree from Hucknall, said the treatment of the large building was "disgusting".
"It used to be a real smart shop, it used to be absolutely beautiful and they added bits on over the years," she said.
"It is just disgusting how it is being left in a state like this - when it would make a lovely hotel, it has that look to it.
"When I came here after Covid to see it boarded up I could have cried.
"I really do think that the owners should say what they are doing with it."
Local residents had previously said that they wanted to see shops return to the vacant retail space.
Steve Taylor, 65, a retiree from Sneinton, said: "It's a lovely building and the owners have let it go to waste, they should let the people know what is going on.
"It could be used as a big indoor marketplace where people could buy all sorts from small businesses.
"It's a grand old building and it used to be Griffin & Spalding, its a large part of the square now left empty."
Retiree Joseph Roberts, 84, who lives in Ruddington, said: "Its a real shame that it has been left like this, I suppose they will knock it down like they do with all the nice buildings that were here," he said.
"They will probably turn it into student accommodation if they ever do anything with it.
"I used to go into Debenhams with my wife and I remember when it was Griffin & Spalding - it was great.
In December, Nottingham BID, working with Nottingham City Council and the owner of the building placed vinyl snowflake decorations in the windows of the former store.
The project aimed to improve the look of the vacant unit to create a positive impact for the surrounding business area.
Retail expert Nelson Blackley highlighted that most Debenhams stores were now in use, and that the Nottingham store may struggle in comparison due to its size and age.
"Unlike many of the ex-Debenhams stores, the large 200,000 square feet landmark Debenhams store building in Nottingham remains empty, with no confirmed plans for its future use yet announced," Mr Blackley said.
"Whilst some, for example in Bournemouth, Beverley, and Galway, have been bought and occupied by other retailers, others are being converted into a very wide range of uses. In most cases these empty buildings are being converted into non-retail use because there is now so little demand for huge retail properties, as well of course as far too much vacant retail space across the UK."
Mr Blackley had previously told Nottinghamshire Live that the large space was unlikely to be returned to retail use in the future.
He added: "The fact that the ex-Debenhams building in Nottingham has not yet attracted a new tenant probably reflects its age (the building has remained virtually unchanged for almost 100 years) and its unusual layout which reflects the piecemeal way the building grew to its current size, with neighbouring properties being acquired in the 1840’s and 1870’s and further developments in 1912 and 1924.
"Its age and layout are likely to make any conversion expensive and meeting current building regulations, in particular those around access and energy efficiency, complicated.
However, the delay in news about this landmark building’s future use might equally just reflect the wider caution and uncertainty by many investors during COVID-19, which hopefully means that we’ll see increased interest by potential developers or occupiers over the coming months.
East Midlands Chamber, who assist businesses in the region, also urged for plans to put forward for the city landmark "quickly".
Chris Hobson, Director of Policy at East Midlands Chamber, said: “The old Debenhams building is a city landmark and as such it’s vitally important that plans for ‘what next’ for the space come forward quickly.
Nottingham city is recovering strongly from the effects of the past two years and we’re hopeful that this prime location can play its full part in supporting the city centre to thrive for many years to come.”
The owner of the Debenhams site, Altum Capital, was contacted by Nottinghamshire Live for comment.
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