Derelict Feryemount House in Ferryhill is to be reacquired by Durham County Council with the intention to demolish the building and regenerate the site after years of delays and lack of progress from developers.
The council disposed of the building to Care Co Plus Ltd (CCPL) in September 2021 with the intention it would be redeveloped into a residential care facility.
Since then, no progress has been made in delivering the approved scheme, despite planning permission being granted and two extensions to the timescales for delivery.
The property has deteriorated significantly in that time and continues to be affected by anti-social behaviour, which the council has been working hard to prevent.
As a result, it has incurred nearly £30,000 in costs to secure and maintain the site after the owners failed to take appropriate action, despite requests to do so.
Under the terms of the original transfer, the council retained the option to reacquire the property if development milestones were not met.
Despite further requests from the current owners to extend the development period, no evidence that the scheme could be delivered was provided.
Reacquiring Feryemount will allow the council to deal with a high-profile blight on the local community, while supporting improvements linked to Ferryhill, allowing the council to facilitate further development on the site.
Cllr Joe Quinn, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for planning, investments and assets, said: “Feryemount House has been a blight on the town for a number of years and a magnet for anti-social behaviour.
“The owners’ failure to take action to ensure the property is safe and secure has subsequently cost the council significant sums of money.
“Reacquiring the property and demolishing it will allow us to regenerate the area and bring further improvements to the residents of Ferryhill.
“We hope this sends a message to occupiers and developers who fail to make progress in developing sites.
“When we have the power, we will take action and reacquire property or land we have sold, to ensure that the regeneration that was promised takes place.”
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
