A DERELICT Halesowen school, which has become a vandal-hit eyesore, is finally being sold for house building almost 10 years after closing down.

Holt Farm Primary School has suffered a decade of neglect – despite many calls for action – and in 2014 most of the building was destroyed in an arson attack.

Halesowen North councillor Karen Shakespeare, revealed this week a sale has now been agreed and it is hoped contracts will be exchanged within eight to 10 weeks.

The Holt Road site, which is almost two acres, was on the market for £1.35 million. The actual sale price and the company behind the purchase remains under wraps.

Cllr Shakespeare said she was “delighted” the last sad chapter in the school’s life was nearing its close after years of complaints by residents who have endured anti-social behaviour at the site.

She said: “Obviously an application for houses will need to go before the development control committee at Dudley Council and agreed before any work can be started but I would support this as residents have sadly had to put up with what was once a lovely and proud school becoming an eyesore and target for vandals.”

An alley connecting Culmore Road and Holt Road on the edge of the site, which has become a hotspot for fly tipping and litter, will be removed as part of the redevelopment plans and a walkway provided through the new estate, which is expected to comprise of 20 to 30 homes.

Holt Farm was closed in 2006 due to falling roles and Cllr Shakespeare, a former pupil, said the school was close to her heart, especially as her mother Dorothy Williams worked there for 30 years until she died in 1991.

She said it was “ironic” the school closed due to falling birth rates according to government figures at the time.

“Now, finally the site is being sold and we are being told that new schools need to be built to cope with increasing birth rates.

“If only some forethought and long term planning had gone into those earlier decisions it might have been possible to re-open this much-loved and local school again,” said Cllr Shakespeare, adding:

“However, we are where we are and I will be keeping a close eye on how things proceed so that this eyesore site is now finally put to good use.”