A RUN-DOWN street of empty houses could be torn down and replaced by quality new homes.

Malton-based building company S Harrison Development has paid more than £1 million for the 57 derelict buildings formerly owned by the Ministry of Defence in Tedder Road, off Askham Lane, Acomb, York.

The company hopes to revitalise the 3.1-acre site, and work with City of York Council to pull down neighbouring properties to build new council-owned homes.

Harrison director Ian Falshaw said: "At the moment the area is a mixture of derelict homes.

"We could simply refurbish the 57 dwellings we have acquired. Ideally though, we would like to take the whole area and give it a new lease of life, including replacing 40 council homes with a number of new homes for rent."

The scheme would replace the Tedder Road homes with a mix of private and rented two and three- bedroom houses and apartments.

"Our plans are dependent on the co-operation of the council's housing and planning teams, and we have already started a dialogue with them," said Mr Falshaw.

"With their support, a run-down area could become a showpiece development within two years."

The Evening Press has been campaigning to have the homes used for years after discovering they were standing empty, while homeless families were accommodated in city hostels and B&Bs.

A council tenant who lives beside the MoD homes said today: "It's like we're living in a shanty town.

"If visitors come here they walk down Askham Lane thinking it's a nice area, then they turn the corner and bang, it's there. They're in Tedder Road and it is an absolute disgrace.

"I would certainly back them pulling it down and starting again. Anything is better than this."

City of York Council confirmed that the Harrison plan was being discussed, but it was at a very early stage.

A spokeswoman said: "The council has started initial discussions with S Harrison Development, but no decisions have been made on the future of any of these homes.

"A proposal may come before councillors at some point in the future, but there are no plans at the moment. The council has not yet had any detailed consultation with the local residents."

Updated: 11:38 Monday, April 16, 2001