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

The Tommy Armstrong Centre in Stanley, has stood vacant since 2001.

Derwentside District Council took out a 30-year lease on the property in 1978, and moved 27 housing and council tax staff into the building.

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

The council looked at sub-letting the building, but in the meantime has been paying around £40,000 year in rent for the empty property.

Council chiefs are hoping to solve the problem by turning the building into offices for Derwentside Council for Voluntary Services and the Volunteer Bureau.

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

Janice Docherty of the voluntary services group 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 organisation is working out of cramped offices in the Louisa Centre in Stanley and community groups are forced 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, presently based in Front Street, Stanley, housing charity SHAID, the Supporting Parents' Network and East Derwentside Credit Union.

District council leader Alex Watson said: "This move by the voluntary services group 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 building in 1986.

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

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