AN eyesore care home which has stood empty for more than 10 years could be set for a new lease of life.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has begun the compulsory purchase order process on the old Laneside facility in Shorrock Lane, Mill Hill, Blackburn.

Senior figures at the local authority hope to bring the site back into use as affordable housing.

Vandals have repeatedly torched the building in recent years with fire bosses calling for the home to be demolished.

The three-storey building has 60 rooms and firefighters said the number of deliberate blazes was putting crews and the public in danger.

There has also been a series of break-ins, leading to smashed doors, graffiti and other damage.

Regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley said: “The building is a continual source of complaints due to its negative impact on the surrounding neighbourhood, resulting in the council carrying out works in default as the owner neglects to maintain the security of the building.

“Cost to refurbish the property to an acceptable standard and bring it back into use is likely to exceed the value of the building.

“As such it is not considered appropriate to dispose of the land and building to a private purchaser for refurbishment.

“The most appropriate course of action would be to demolish the building for redevelopment for the provision of housing on the site.

“This outcome will further contribute to the council’s corporate objectives for the provision of much-needed family housing across the borough.”

The building was built in the mid-1960s, and following decommission of the care home the land and building was sold to a private purchaser in September 2000.

Between 2000 and 2004 the building was converted into 19 self-contained apartments which were each sold to private buyers.

Following some sporadic occupation of a small number of the individual apartments between October 2004 and February 2007, the building became empty again and has remained empty since.

The current owner acquired the individual apartments between 2007 and 2009.

Cllr Riley added engagement with the owner of the building, including attempts to acquire the land and building by agreement, has been exhausted and compulsory purchase action is now considered to be the only option left for the council to pursue.

It is expected to cost about £150,000 to acquire the site, with a further £80,000 for subsequent demolition.

The project would be funded through Section 106 cash which is paid to the council by housing developers.

A second option for the site is to offer it as a development opportunity for market housing through an informal tendering process.