Gloucester City Council is being urged to compulsory purchase a derelict office block so it can be turned into around 30 homes.

Prospect Point at 67-69, London Road, Gloucester was formerly the call centre and offices of Fortis Insurance.

Fortis was rebranded as Ageas after moving into a new purpose-built office complex at Gloucester Business Park in Brockworth. The London Road property was put on the market but has now been empty for 11 years.

Today Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Jeremy Hilton told the annual Gloucester City Council meeting that it was time for the council to do something about the eyesore building.

Cllr Hilton said: "Local residents are fed up with these empty buildings being an eyesore on London Road. Our motion hopefully, will get things moving.

"The owners have failed look after the properties, we cannot allow them to continue to remain empty for year after year.

"The council must now buy them for a new housing project, using some of the £80 million it set aside for such developments. If a negotiated purchase fails the council must use compulsory purchase powers to acquire the site."

Speaking on BBC Radio Gloucestershire, the leader of Gloucester City Council, Cllr Paul James agreed that the building had become an eyesore. He said it was hoped the owners of the building could still do a deal but he admitted the council's patience was "wearing thin."