A DERELICT terraced house, which has been empty for 20 years, is set to be brought back to life by a new owner.

The home – number three Eckersley Road in Astley Bridge – has been empty since September 1999.

In the intervening years, the windows and doors have been boarded up and the brickwork has become discoloured, making it an eyesore for residents of the street.

John Tomlinson, 78, has lived in Eckersley Road since 1970. He claimed the problems stretch back much further than the past 20 years.

“I first complained in the late 1980s and it had been empty for about five years then.” he said.

“A bad storm blew the bay windows out and that’s why they’re all boarded up.

“I’ve complained to a number of councillors over the years but it doesn’t seem anything has been done.”

In response to the complaints, Bolton Council took enforcement action against the former owner of the house and it was sold to a new owner.

Work is now underway to transform the property.

A town hall spokesman said: “We are aware of this long-term empty property and significant progress has been made towards bringing it back into use.

“After we took enforcement action against the original proprietor, the house was sold to a new owner who has plans to renovate the building.

“Some work has already taken place, including cutting back the overgrown garden, demolishing the old garage and removing general waste.

“As with any long-term empty home, there are a number of complex, structural and time-consuming legal processes that must be followed.

“We appreciate the patience and understanding of local residents as we work towards a resolution on this issue.”

In August 2017, planning officers refused proposals to build a second floor extension, which would have turned the property into an eight-bedroom house.

It was rejected on the grounds that the extension would “by virtue of its design, height and siting” be detrimental to the appearance of the area.

An appeal was also dismissed in January 2018.