Firm interest has been shown in an old building in Ilkeston which has been renovated and refurbished to create offices for new and growing businesses.

Enterprise agency Erewash Partnership is leading the £300,000 project at 3-9 Heanor Road with around £140,000 grant aid from Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership.

Building work was done by Resurrection Development of Manners Industrial Estate, Ilkeston, to drawings by Midland Building Design Practice of Leopold Street, Long Eaton. Both are Partnership members.

With that work completed, the building has now been handed over to the Partnership, which is pleased with the interest shown from prospective occupiers.

Two offers have been received already and there have been inquiries from three other interested parties.

"We are delighted at the interest, given the current financial climate and the fact that we have not marketed the premises," said Partnership chief executive Ian Viles.

"We expect the first tenant to move in by the end of the month."

Most of the two upper floors at the early 20th century building were converted into 11 offices. A lift has been installed to the first floor, with new windows put in and the frontage cleaned.

At the rear a new business entrance has been created and the car park resurfaced and lit to create a safe and welcoming environment.

The offices, which will be able to support more than 20 people, are being offered to start-ups and new businesses at a commercial rate on 'easy-in and easy-out' terms - flexible packages that mean occupiers do not get tied up with long leases. Tenants will benefit from full membership of the Partnership.

There have been environmental improvements to the site, which included creating additional planting habitats and putting up six bird boxes after a survey found that house sparrows had been nesting in the roof.