WORK to demolish the eyesore Crown House in Kidderminster has been completed.

The old office building was built in the early 1970s but had been empty for a number of years since the Post Office and emergency dental practice vacated in 2016.

The eight-storey building was once rated among the top 10 ugliest buildings in Britain.

Wyre Forest District Council took back control of the site on Monday, March 30 after accepting the surrender of the lease, which still had 48 years left to run.

Kidderminster Shuttle:

Demolition work began last summer and planning permission to use the land as a temporary car park was granted at the end of last year.

The council says it is working on long-term proposals for the site as part of its submission to Government for funding from the Future High Streets Fund Initiative.

Councillor Fran Oborski, Wyre Forest District Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for economic regeneration, planning and capital investment, said: "We’re delighted Crown House has now been demolished.

"It took a number of years for the council and its formal tenant, Telereal Trillium, to reach a successful agreement to demolish the site at no cost to the tax-payer.

“We always believed that the removal of Crown House from the town centre landscape would be a major step forward and we are working hard on proposals for the redevelopment of this site.

Kidderminster Shuttle:

"A degree of patience will be required though and it will take some time before we are able to deliver the final vision and in the meantime we want to make use of the space to help people park close to the town and easily access the shops and services that are available.”

Jonny Pitts, planning and disposals director at Telereal Trillium, said: “We are pleased to have completed this complex demolition, which concludes our leasehold liability surrender, and returned this strategic town centre site to Wyre Forest District Council ready for regeneration.

"We will follow the council’s plans for the site with interest and feel sure it can once again make a valuable contribution to town centre life in Kidderminster.”