PLANS by Derby City Council to buy the Duckworth Square site and sell it on to a developer have been described as a "positive move forward" by an organisation which represents retailers in an area of the city.
Last week, Councillor Martin Rawson, who is in charge of regeneration, told the Derby Telegraph that the authority was considering buying the derelict site.
It is also contemplating making a bid for the former Debenhams site nearby, part of which is occupied by Silly Sid's and is owned by Intu.
The proposals have been welcomed by St Peters Quarter Business Improvement District, which works on behalf of local businesses to improve the retail offer between the Cathedral Quarter and the Intu Derby shopping centre.
Duckworth Square falls within the St Peters Quarter area.
Stephen Jeffery, who chairs the BID, said: "Since St Peters Quarter BID was launched in 2011, we have achieved a great deal of our five-year business plan to promote the area, improve the experience for visitors and support business growth and investment.
"Duckworth Square is an area that regularly comes on to the agenda of our board and management groups.
"We have long been asking questions about its future and I'm delighted that there now seems to be a real appetite within the council to take action and invest much needed resources to try and kick-start its regeneration.
"Duckworth Square is a prominent gateway into St Peters Quarter but has been neglected for too long.
"Its dilapidated state therefore gives the wrong impression to visitors and brings down the whole look and feel of the surrounding area."
Mr Jeffery said it was also important that the future of the former Debenhams site be resolved.
He said: "High on our priorities is to see some positive plans for the future of the former Debenhams site, whose future will be integral to the overall regeneration and improvement of the Green Lane area."
