A REDUNDANT building that has cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds could be brought back to life.

The Tommy Armstrong Centre, in Stanley, has been empty since 2001. Derwentside District Council took on a 30-year lease for the property in 1978, and moved in 27 housing and council tax workers.

But running costs spiralled and the council moved out of the centre two-and-a-half years ago, shifting staff to its offices in Front Street.

It looked at sub-letting the building but, in the meantime, has been paying about £40,000 a year in rent for an empty property.

Now authority chiefs are hoping to solve the problem by turning it into offices for Derwentside Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) and the Volunteer Bureau.

Negotiations are still ongoing with the private owners over the building, in order to secure a sub-letting agreement.

Janice Docherty, from the CVS, said: "We would like to develop a one-stop shop for the voluntary sector, and obviously the Tommy Armstrong Centre would be an ideal venue.

"Our workload has gone through the roof recently and we have voluntary organisations clamouring for space."

At present, the CVS is working out of cramped offices in the Louisa Centre, in Stanley, and community groups have to travel to Consett if they need an interview room.

The Tommy Armstrong Centre would provide space for an office and meeting rooms.

Agencies who have already expressed an interest in joining the CVS in the centre include the Citizens' Advice Bureau, in Front Street, Stanley. Others keen are housing charity Shaid, the Supporting Parents Network (Span) and East Derwentside Credit Union.

Council leader Alex Watson said: "This move by the CVS is a strong possibility and we are very receptive to it."

The district council spent £250,000 on improvements to the centre after it moved into the new building in 1986.

But the building was plagued with problems and the authority moved its staff out in 1991 after being told it would cost £330,000 to repair a heating and ventilation system.

Coun Watson said: "Our decision to move staff to Front Street actually saved the taxpayer money, even though we were still paying the rent, because the costs associated with that building were so huge."