A former dilapidated bank in Sutton town centre has been given a new lease of life thanks to Ashfield District Council.

The building on Low Street, Sutton, has been transformed by the council as part of its £6.27m Future High Streets Fund, and is the first of the four projects from the funding to be completed. It has two new commercial units on the ground floor, and two apartments on the first floor.

The refurbishments to the ground floor included new windows, doors, and painting the exterior, as well as extensive internal work to transform the space from a bank and its vault to a blank canvas ready for the new occupants.

The ground floor units have been leased out by a local family and the business will soon open its doors.

As part of the Towns Fund Green Ashfield initiative, the building has had photovoltaic panels installed on the roof to create clean renewable energy, reducing the carbon footprint and energy use of the building.

Coun Matthew Relf, executive lead member for Regeneration and Corporate Transformation, said: “We are thrilled to announce that our first Future High Streets Fund projects has been completed. Since receiving the funding we have been working away in the background to ensure that the money is spent on projects that will benefit residents of Ashfield.

“This building was an eyesore and a waste of valuable retail space on one of Sutton’s main streets, so we are glad to have transformed this site. Soon other work should begin on Low Street which we hope will kickstart a transformation of this end of Sutton.

“As the year progresses, residents will be able to see even more changes and improvements taking place across the district.”