AN EMPTY social housing block which has stood empty for six years has been demolished.

Grantham House in Cranham Street, Oxford, was sold by the city council for £2.75m in 2007.

Since then it has been boarded up, but last year a developer was granted planning permission to turn the block into new homes.

The scheme will involve turning the building into seven flats and two houses, with a third floor with roof gardens.

Property entrepreneur Johnny Sandleson, who is behind the scheme, said: “Work has begun on the site and we are making great progress.

“We hope the new homes will be fully occupied by next autumn.”

The new building has been designed to fit into the Jericho conservation area and the building’s multi-coloured frontage has been inspired by homes in Allam Street and Observatory Street.

Plans have been in the pipeline since November 2011 but were delayed because a city council committee couldn’t decide whether to demand a financial contribution to the community, known as a Section 106 money.