The owner of a derelict historic building in the centre of Bath could be forced to sell it to the council.

Top councillors at Bath and North East Somerset Council will consider several options for what to do about the old King Edward's School building on Broad Street in their council cabinet meeting on Thursday. One possible course of action could see the council issue a compulsory purchase order for the property.

The previous site of the Bath private school, which moved to a new Bathwick site in 1986, the 1750s schoolhouse has stood empty for almost 40 years.

Councillor Richard Samuel, the council's deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, said: "The King Edwards School building has been empty for almost four decades. Despite the owner twice receiving planning permission to convert it into a hotel and restaurant, it remains empty and is now at risk."

Planning permission was most recently granted in 2021.

Mr Samuel added: "We want to work with the owner to bring the building back into use, but if unsuccessful we may need to consider a compulsory purchase order."

The council cabinet will consider negotiating with the owner to acquire the building, or working together to identify heritage grants that could apply to the building.

But issuing an order to force the owner to make repairs is also on the table.

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The council cabinet will discuss the plans in their meeting in Bath Guildhall at 6.30pm on March 9.