WORK to clear up one of Hereford's biggest eyesores moved a step closer this week.

Plans have been submitted to refurbish two retail units and build 20 apartments on the site of the fire-damaged building in High Town which has lain untouched since a devastating blaze in October 2010, one of the county's worst.

Omaha Guernsey LP has applied to Herefordshire Council for the permission with 12 residential units set to go above the shops, along with the erection of seven apartments facing East Street and the refurbishment of a redundant building to form one home.

The bid comes just three months after the council backed a proposal which would see them issue a compulsory purchase order on the owners should there be no sign of restoration work on the site by the end of this July.

Cabinet member Cllr Philip Price said he was glad something is being done.

"I'm very pleased about it," he said.

"We have to suppose that, if approved, it could move the sale of the building to a third party."

In February this year, the council said "increasing pressure from the public and media" prompted it into forcing former owners Omaha Properties to ensure the building was stabilised.

However, before this could be carried out, Omaha went into liquidation in 2015, with the receivers, who took over ownership, telling the council they were not in a position to carry out work.

The council said the enforcement notice was dropped as it was not viable to take action against an insolvent company.

But if the receiver fails to sell the building to a party with plans to restore the building, the council may then pursue the option to buy.

Historic England has previously relaxed many of the listed building constraints, allowing the front to be rebuilt, as long as would-be developers keep as much "historic fabric" as possible.