COUNCIL bosses have lifted a 'burden' planning condition to try and encourage redevelopment of an abandoned care facility after it was left empty for five years.

Warren Park Care Home has lay abandoned since its closure in 2015, with the building falling into a state of complete disrepair.

Previously any firm interested in breathing new life into the Anthony Road site would have had a legal obligation to demolish the existing care home and erect 16 flats.

The permission was granted on 16 September 2009 - however no work was ever carried out to build the new homes.

The agreement also set out the terms under which it would have to offer affordable housing and an open play space.

Larch Life UK, who are the owners of the site, have now successfully secured the removal of the conditions in order to facilitate the sale of the property.

Planning bosses handling the case said: "The obligation is a title burden on the application site as a consequence of granting planning permission for the demolition of the building and erection of flats.

"The development did not commence and cannot now commence without a new grant of planning permission and as the planning permission cannot commence, the requirements of the obligation cannot be met.

"Therefore we believe it is appropriate that the obligation should now be discharged in order to relieve the landowner of the burden placed on the property title."

Residents have previously been concerned regarding the state of the building after it was targeted by yobs, who were responsible for a number of break-ins.

Some of the building’s windows were recently boarded up in a bid to prevent intruders gaining access to the premises.

A spokesperson said: "It is hoped that since there is no longer the planning permission conditions attached, a sale can be made and work to regenerate the site can begin."