A LONG-STANDING eyesore site in Driffield town centre could soon be the subject of a compulsory purchase order.
The potential move by East Riding Council to bring land in the old cattle market area under public ownership has been confirmed by the authority's leader, Councillor Stephen Parnaby.
Speaking at a full council meeting, he said private sector-led efforts to regenerate the site had failed.
The old market area and nearby former sugar mill have been derelict for more than a decade despite planning permission being in place for a supermarket-led regeneration scheme.
Councillor Parnaby said: "I think the situation is getting serious enough to consider using compulsory purchase measures under the regeneration powers we have as a council.
"Something has got to move and clearly the private sector has failed on this occasion. We have got to be given the chance to get something moving."
Until now, he said the council's ability to influence development at the site had been limited because about 80 per cent of the land involved was in private ownership.
But he acknowledged frustrations among residents and civic leaders in the town had reached such a point that a different approach was now necessary.
Cllr Parnaby said: "I do share the frustrations of residents and local councillors. It has taken a long time – far too long – and it looks a mess.
"It is often said the private sector gets things done quicker than local authorities but this has not been the case in Driffield.
"It is fair to say the state of the economy and the property market probably hasn't helped but that doesn't help local residents.
"We supported a retail-led regeneration scheme with planning permission and we have recently allocated the site for that use in the Draft Local Plan.
"However, 80 per cent of the area is in private ownership and although the council has worked with the landowners, no one has been prepared to commit to the scheme.
"At the moment we are not in the driving seat. It's not in our gift to bring it forward but I also believe its overdue and that something should be done."
Planning permission for the former market site includes a new supermarket, housing and a community centre.
It has long been thought that Tesco would occupy the new supermarket after moving from the chain's existing site in the town.
But the retail giant has never formally committed itself to the scheme and recently announced it was not planning to build any more new stores in the UK, including one earmarked for a similar town centre regeneration scheme in Bridlington.
