A FORMER council-run sheltered home in Oxford has been mothballed until there is an upturn in the property market.

In March, the last resident moved out of Grantham House in Cranham Street, Jericho, where there were 35 sheltered flats.

The council planned to sell the building to a developer as part of a proposal to raise £9.1m by closing a number of sheltered housing complexes and selling the land.

But the recession has meant that the council will struggle to find a buyer and might not get the best price for the land.

As a result, the home is being left empty until the property market picks up.

In 2007, some residents launched a fight to prevent the home from being demolished.

Eventually they all agreed to be rehoused, with a number given new homes in Jericho.

David Hearn, 45, from Cardigan Street, Jericho, said: “If the council wants to get the best price for Grantham House then it should sell now.

“But its overriding duty is to act now for the homeless because there is a huge homelessness list in Oxford.”

Formerly home to many local senior citizen council tenants, Grantham House now stands empty, clad with metal sheeting to protect it from vandalism.

Mr Hearn said the former sheltered housing block was “another unused domestic and social asset – and eyesore – in Oxford”.

Jenny Mann, a spokesman for Jericho Community Association, said: “People in Jericho are disappointed that Grantham House has been left boarded-up, and would like to see the space used for affordable housing at some point.

“I think it’s generally accepted that the residents who moved out have been re-housed very well in nice new flats.”

Adrian Arbib, who is campaigning for residents to buy back Castle Mill boatyard from property developers Spring Residential, added: “You have to question whether it was necessary to move some of these people out at a time in their life when they probably would have been quite happy to stay there.”

Susanna Pressel, Labour city councillor for Jericho and Osney, said the council would wait until the property market improved before selling Grantham House.

She added: “We would like to see the site sold to a housing association, and have 50 per cent affordable housing on the site.

“It’s a terrible shame that the building has been left empty and I know people in Jericho are angry about that.”

Louisa Dean, a spokesman for the city council, said: “The property is not on the market. We are currently considering our options.”

affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk