AN "EYESORE" building in the west of York is set to be transformed into a new £350,000 community facility.

Council chiefs are proposing to demolish the rundown Chapelfields Community Centre in Bramham Road and replace it with a new one. The revamp would also include family housing and a convenience store.

The plan is one of two options for the second phase of the Chapelfields Regeneration Initiative. The first phase - to demolish Sanderson House and build affordable housing - got under way this week.

Westfield ward councillor Andrew Waller has led a steering group to gauge local opinion on the site.

He said: "I'm in favour of a new community centre - it would give the whole area a lift. It must be designed so that more than one group can use it at the same time."

The fall-back option for the community centre site is to refurbish the existing facility with ownership remaining with the council. But the estimated cost is thought to be about £850,000 because of the building's age and asbestos potentially being present.

Paul Herring, City of York Council's head of youth service, says in a report: "The first and favoured option, if adequate finance is in place, is for a new community centre half the size of the existing.

"There is potential for seven three-bed affordable housing units to be built on the remainder of the site with the council having nomination rights."

He said the Costcutter Supermarket Group had indicated an interest in operating from the site.

Updated: 11:00 Friday, March 07, 2003