An unfinished "eyesore" in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre has been sold to a new owner. Work started on the Sky Building several years ago but has never been completed.

The student flat development was bought by Built4Learning in 2021 and it was later announced that construction would soon recommence, But earlier this year the company went into administration.

Now the building has been snapped up by Liverpool-based Integritas Property Group, MP Aaron Bell has revealed. He described Integritas as "a firm who specialise in rescuing failed developments" on social media.

He added: "Newcastle Borough Council is still waiting to hear from them directly about their programme, but they have been told that a new planned opening date of September 2024 is expected. The Sky Building is just over the road from my office, and I know what a blight and eyesore it has been for everybody.

"It is frequently raised with me, but as a privately-owned development with multiple creditors it should not be for the council to intervene using taxpayers' money to rescue the development. Therefore a private-sector sale is great news, and I look forward to swift progress being made on the site."

The development will now be known as Deakin's Yard, Integritas Property Group's CEO and managing director Mitchell Walsh said. He added: "I am extremely excited to complete the acquisition of the former Sky Building.

"Integritas has a reputation for helping with schemes that have had issues along the way and we are delighted to not only help the vast majority of the original purchasers recover funds but to also deliver a landmark scheme that will bring a number of jobs and opportunities for the local town and residents. I am extremely proud and excited in what we have achieved and I would like to thank all of our investors and partners who made this possible."

The Sky Building is located on the site of the former Jubilee Baths. The land was sold by Newcastle Borough Council in 2015 and the new development was due to open in 2017, but work ground to a halt a year later.

Speaking in 2022, council leader Simon Tagg said: "The council shares everyone's frustrations about the partially built Sky Building. We're all disappointed that this prominent site has been left to the elements for such a long time.

"It has become a blight on our town and there have been several instances of debris coming off, security breaches and a general lack of site security and untidiness. This has been unacceptable and is something completely outside of the council's control."

READ MORE: Family pay tribute to 21-year-old man killed in Stoke-on-Trent collision

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.