Legal threat for Beatties' owners over state of site
The former department store in Wolverhampton is in a dilapidated state, the city council leader says.
**Legal action threatened against Beatties owners over condition of site**
The building was purchased by Eden Property Group for about £6.15m in 2024.
Legal proceedings are due to be launched against the owners of the former Beatties building in Wolverhampton because of its "unacceptable state".
The department store on Victoria Street has stood empty since 2019, following the collapse of House of Fraser, and has since deteriorated.
City of Wolverhampton Council said its action against Eden Beatties was prompted by the owners having "missed deadline after deadline" to meet an order to tidy the site, which had now become "a blight on the city centre".
The council said it wanted the site returned to use.
The building was bought by Eden Property Group for about £6.15m in 2024.
Plans for shops, restaurants and cafes on the site, together with more than 300 homes, were approved later that year.
Plans were approved to redevelop the store in 2024.
Eden Beatties has removed internal fittings and taken out some structures, but has not advanced the scheme for which it has planning permission, and the building is now in poor condition, the council said.
Earlier this year, councillors supported plans to use compulsory purchase powers to acquire the locally listed heritage building and begin its regeneration.
Council leader Stephen Simkins said the owners had been given "ample opportunity" to comply with the legally-binding clean up notice.
"They have missed deadline after deadline and enough is enough - the current state of the building is totally unacceptable," he said.
"I also want to recognise the frustration felt by residents and us all regarding the lack of visible progress in developing the Beatties site.
"It is an iconic landmark in our city and we have stressed to the owners the urgency of seeing realistic and rapid plans to bring it back to life with evidence that a credible and comprehensive funding package is capable of being developed."
He added that the council was ready to support "credible plans" but was considering all options, and that using compulsory purchase powers would be a last resort.