Formerly used by French car manufacturer Renault for its car parts distribution, the Spectrum building has been little used since 1999 when the French firm decided to move its business to the Midlands.

Spectrum has also featured in a Bond movie and won a string of international architectural awards.

Aside from a small number of art exhibitions, the building, which was designed by Millennium Dome designer Sir Norman Foster, has been laid empty for nearly five years.

But some feel hope is now on the horizon, after it become recognised by the Twentieth Century Society, which attempts to safeguard the heritage of architecture and design in Britain.

But there are hopes too, by developers, to re-market the site for new business and in August the Evening Advertiser reported that Swedish furniture giant Ikea may have been looking at the building.