East Renfrewshire Council is set to buy a derelict house in Barrhead.

The privately-owned property – 25 Divernia Way – has not been lived in for a number of years. Over the years, the condition of the home has deteriorated and a Dangerous Building Notice has been served. The home has been fire damaged, gutters are missing, its windows and doors have been boarded up, while it has also been vandalised by graffiti and has an overgrown garden littered with debris.

However, attempts to contact the owner to repair and maintain the house have been unsuccessful. As a result, the Council is now negotiating with the owner to purchase the property, which is said to have been previously owned by a housing association before being privately purchased. If this does not follow through, the local authority has confirmed it will take steps to buy it through a Compulsory Purchase Order.

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Councillor Danny Devlin, Convener for Housing, said: "This property is a real eyesore and has been a blight on the community for years. It's also in a dangerous condition and we can't allow it to be left in this state.

"I'm delighted this step is being taken to bring it back into council ownership and I am sure residents who have had to put up with this on their doorstep will be too."

East Renfrewshire Council has said it will repair the property once it is in their possession. It added that the process could take up to three years.

(JP/CD)