COUNCIL bosses are pushing forward plans to finally demolish an eyesore Kidderminster town centre building.

Wyre Forest District Council is in discussions with long-term Crown House tenants Telereal Trillium about them surrendering their lease and undertaking the demolition of the building.

Details of the proposed deal will be discussed by Cabinet members at a meeting on September 20.

The building currently lies empty, after the Post Office and an emergency dental practice moved out in 2016, and it has long attracted criticism for being a blight on Kidderminster.

Long-serving Kidderminster councillor Fran Oborski has previously described Crown House as an “architectural monstrosity” and “an unpleasant exclamation mark at the end of the £2 million investment in public realm improvement”.

In 2005, it was even named as one of the worst 12 buildings in the UK by Channel 4 series Demolition.

But the council is confident a deal can be struck that would see Telereal Trillium carry out the demolition of Crown House in exchange for the authority accepting early surrender of the lease, which still has 50 years to run.

Wyre Forest District Council leader Marcus Hart said: “I’ve always made it clear that under my leadership that the district council will work hard to secure the removal of Crown House but that cannot come at any cost to district tax payers.

“I am pleased that officers have been able to work with Telereal Trillium on a potential deal that could secure the removal of the building in exchange for them surrendering their lease early.

“At this stage the financial and other terms of the deal are confidential until a formal agreement is signed and the report has to be dealt with as a confidential item, but I can reassure our local community that the Cabinet has their interests at the heart of our discussion”.

Councillor Ian Hardiman, Wyre Forest District Council’s cabinet member for planning & economic regeneration added: “These negotiations are far from straightforward as the lease still has 50 years to run and understanding the financial consequences of surrendering the lease has to be considered by both sides very carefully.

“However we are hopeful that the principles of a deal are very close to being agreed. If the Cabinet approves them at its meeting we will look to Telereal Trillium to also agree them when their Board meets on Thursday, September 28.”