A FORMER Oswaldtwistle care home which was damaged in a suspected arson attack could soon be demolished.

Peel Court, Union Road, was one of 32 county council homes closed and sold off.

Despite being sold at auction to property speculator Andrew Booth, it has stood empty since September 2003 and has become a magnet for vandals.

Firefighters have been called to it repeatedly to deal with suspected arson attacks the most recent was last Thursday evening.

Since 2003 Mr Booth and his design consultants, C2 Design, based in Crewe, have been working with Hyndburn Council to find an alternative use for the site.

Ideas, including a nursery and shops, have been rejected by planners.

Mr Booth has said from the start that he was willing to see the building stay redundant until the council granted him the planning permission he needed.

The latest proposal is to demolish the building and build terrace properties in its place.

And plans for the affordable housing scheme have recently been re-submitted to the council.

Similar proposals were withdrawn earlier this year so the developer could make alterations following consultation meetings with council planners.

David Craggs, a partner in C2 Design, said he hoped the application would go before the planning committee in the very near future and if the plans were approved work would start straight away to demolish the existing building and clean up the site.

He said: "We have taken on board what was said about the plans we submitted and have made some amendments.

"At the end of the day it is down to the council to decide what is right for the site, but we are trying hard to work with them.

"It has a key position in the town and it would be much better if it was a nice, cared-for site.

"And that is what we have been trying to achieve all along.

"It has been a source of problems and all we can do is make it as secure as possible."

Earlier this year Acorn Lodge, another of the borough's closed care homes, was sold at auction.

Coun Paul Barton said he feared the 35-room building, in Nuttall Street, Accrington, would fall into decay.

Hill Top, in Baxenden, is also lying empty and has been targeted by vandals.

There are plans for housing association Calico to develop the site, but it is still bidding for funding to do the work.