The demolition of the 'derelict' former council offices to the rear of Stenson House in Coalville has moved a step closer.

North West Leicestershire District Council has received a planning application to carry out the work on the site off Whitwick Road.

The council now feels that the cost of maintaining the building is 'a drain on public funding'.

The buildings have not been in use for around two years, with a new office now open off Belvoir Road next to the Belvoir Shopping Centre.

According to the application, by North West Leicestershire District Council Property Services, the demolition is set to take place on or after August 11 this year.

The application form confirms that Stenson House is excluded from this application.

It adds: "The former council office building has been vacant for approximately two years and is becoming increasingly derelict. The cost of maintaining derelict buildings is a drain on public funding.

"Specialist contractors will strip the building by hand, and, once in shell form, the building will be collapsed into its interior brickwork.

"It will be broken into manageable pieces and metal work will be put aside for recycling."

After that, progressing under the title of 'Stenson Square Gardens', the project is proposed to include the public space and car park outside of Stenson House to complement a high-quality housing scheme on the site.

The scheme will form part of the Coalville Regeneration Framework – the current blueprint for revitalising the town.

The council says the preparatory work will ensure the best use of its land in Coalville - and will be funded using a mix of government grants and the council's own funds.

The Council Offices were vacated during 2023 as part of NWLDC's accommodation changes, which saw office staff working partly from home and partly from a refurbished Whitwick Business Centre, and a new Customer Centre opening in Coalville town centre.

Eventually, the vision is to improve the look of this key gateway into the town, linking the London Road public car park to Stenson House.

The council adds it wants to create an attractive public space for socialising and for photographs following weddings within the building.

With a longer-term plan for high-quality housing on the former Council Offices site, the designs are intended to make sure the public space links well to any residential development.