Ipswich's Grimwades building may be compulsory purchased

Grimwades was an outfitters and tailoring company, founded in 1844. This picture dates from the 1960s, before the pedestrianisation of the Cornhill

A prominent empty shop that "blights" a town's main square could be compulsory purchased by a council.

Ipswich Borough Council said it believed it was the "only way" to bring the former Grimwades store, on the Cornhill, back into use.

The former department store's last permanent occupant was Clinton Cards, which left in 2013.

Council officers are recommending the purchase order is approved at a council meeting next week.

"Following extensive negotiations to try to buy the building, the borough fears it could remain empty for many more years," the council said.

The building, on the town's main square next to the Town Hall, has stood empty for many years

Neil MacDonald, Labour leader of the council, said: "It's disappointing that the owner - who lives in Dubai - has refused to sell the building to the council, while restricting the prospective use of the building in his ownership.

"This empty building blights our town centre."

He said the council knew there were "potential occupiers out there who would happily lease the building from us if we had control of it", and the local authority was also engaging with the landlords of other empty buildings to bring them back into use.

It said there was "no other option" and it was "the only way to bring this building back into use, for the benefit of the town".

"We want to see a vibrant town centre as much as residents do and will be relentless in our work to achieve this," said Mr MacDonald.

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Grimwades, founded by tailor Richard Grimwade in 1844, occupied the red brick three-storey building until it closed in 1996.

The building has been used as a pop-up shop since Clinton Cards left it in 2013, but is currently unused

The council granted Pret A Manger permission to turn it into a cafe and sandwich shop.

But in January 2019, the national chain pulled the plug on the contract without giving a reason.

In August 2019, a menu dating from when Grimwades had an instore cafe, was put on display in the window.

An old menu, where you could buy a coffee for 70p, appeared at the window in 2019

The plan is due to be discussed at the council's executive meeting on Tuesday, 13 June.