CONFUSION surrounds the stalled £62m redevelopment of an ‘eyesore’ Runcorn building after both the council and developer claimed the ball was in each other’s court.

Halton Council planning chiefs unanimously approved a scheme by Shah Capital in January to replace the dilapidated East Lane House near Runcorn Shopping City with 144 apartments, nine houses, a  boutique hotel and care home.

But work is yet to commence, with East Runcorn MP Mike Amesbury – whose office is based at Runcorn Shopping City – recently  urging the developer to ‘get on with it’.

Mr Amesbury said he had been invited to witness the commencement of demolition, originally scheduled for April, but work had still not begun.

Runcorn and Widnes World: Artist impression of what the East Lane House redevelopment would look like.Artist impression of what the East Lane House redevelopment would look like.

The Labour MP for Weaver Vale, said: “I have real concerns about developments taking place on greenfield sites in the Runcorn part of my constituency, particularly housing schemes that are out-of-reach for everyday families.

“In contrast, East Lane House would be the redevelopment of an existing brownfield site to provide not only housing but a care home and hotel.

“The developer has permission to demolish the eyesore building. Well, they need to get on with it!"

He added: "This blot on the landscape has been there far too long. I look forward to seeing renewal and regeneration of the area.”

The approved plans include a seven-storey care home which would feature 66 residential units and the five-storey, 85-room hotel which  would be run by Best Western under its Aiden brand with a 60-seat restaurant, gym and bar.

Documents accompanying the plans claimed the hotel would generate 28 full-time jobs, while the care home would employ 10 people.

When approached for comment, a spokesman for Shah claimed the council had not completed a Section 106 agreement – a legal document between planning authorities and developers which sets out measures the developer must take to reduce their project’s impact on the community. They can include things such as financial commitments to improve local infrastructure such as roads.

He said: “The problem is that the council still have not completed the 106, so we are pretty well stopped.”

But a spokeswoman for Halton Council said: “The Section 106 agreement has been with the developer for several months and we await their agreement and signature."

The long-abandoned former Department of Employment building has been targeted by arsonists in the past and has a long planning legacy.

This latest approved application is the third for the site since 2005, with previous plans including a shopping centre and conversion into 448 flats.

That was approved on appeal in 2015, but nothing came of the proposal as the then-owners – Absolute Living Developments – collapsed into liquidation. Shah Capital picked up the site in 2016, but this was the first formal planning application the company has brought forward.