FEARS of vandalism mean a former centre for the homeless in York faces being bulldozed.

The old Peasholme Centre, in Stonebow, has been empty since its occupants moved to a new base in Fishergate last year, and now City of York Council has begun looking for a company to demolish the two-storey building.

The centre was originally relocated to make way for the authority’s proposed new headquarters at Hungate, and although that scheme was later abandoned, the need for better facilities for homeless people led to the Fishergate project continuing.

Applying for permission to knock down the Stonebow structure, the council said the move was necessary “to reduce the risk of vandalism and unlawful occupation”.

Neil Hindhaugh, the council’s head of property services, said: “There has been recent interest from the marketplace in developing this site for a range of employment uses which would provide jobs for people in York.”