The Co-Op building is really a collection of different buildings from different periods, parts of which date back to the 1870s; buried within the present structure are the remains of the Victorian St. George's music hall.

The western part of the current building (built from red brick and topped with a clock tower) was constructed at the turn of the 19th century; the eastern part, faced with tiles, was added in 1905. The Co-Op opened in the building in 1916, a phase in the building's life marked by the plaque still on the front elevation.

The interior was re-modelled in the 1930s, when the store was extended backwards on to Wollaton Street. Minor alterations were subsequently made in the early 1970s. Until its closure in April 2001 it was the largest retail store in Nottingham.

The Civic Society sought to have the building listed as being of architectural interest but the Governement turned down the application following a report by English Heritage, which stated that "although there is an impressive 1930s staircase, the Edwradian building both externally and internally is considered too altered to merit listing".

The Co-Op Society is seeking demolition of the building whilst the City Council would like to see the facade retained allowing retail, leisure, catering, hotel or office development.

(February 2002)