Council chiefs are planning to demolish a derelict industrial unit to make way for new housing.

The former Mr Lucky Bags building in Portland Street, Hanley has been out of use for years and has become a magnet for arson, fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is now set to purchase the site and apply for funding to bulldoze the eyesore building, allowing it to be redeveloped with around 40 new homes.

Council leaders believe the location is 'ideal' for housing, and would only require a 'relatively small sum' to acquire.

Mr Lucky Bags went into administration in 2009, and the unit was subsequently used as a cash and carry by CaterChoice and Freshways.

But since closing down the building has quickly deteriorated, being set on fire multiple times and having its windows smashed.

In 2021, a private developer secured outline planning permission to bulldoze the site and build 30 to 40 homes, but the scheme was never taken forward.

Local residents have welcomed the new plans for the site.

Sarah Millward, who lives opposite the building in Lowther Street, said: "I've lived here about 10 years and it has become an eyesore. I think it would be good to have new housing there."

According to a council decision notice, director of housing, regeneration and operations Carol Gibbs has authorised officers to negotiate the acquisition of the site, with cabinet members to be consulted on the final sign-off.

Officers will also apply to the Brownfield Land Release Fund for funding to demolish and remediate the site.

The notice says that if the council does not take this action, the site will remain 'in a derelict state, blighting the area, attracting anti-social behaviour with no certainty of delivery'.

It states: "The reason for rejecting this option [of doing nothing] is that for a relatively small sum if money, the council could acquire this ideal housing development site."

The council is under pressure to develop more housing on brownfield sites in the city, having been set a house-building target of 948 homes a year by the government.

The former Mr Lucky Bags site has been earmarked for up to 40 homes in the council's draft local plan.