A HOMELESS hostel which nearly 2,500 people wanted to reopen will be demolished if a plan gets the go ahead next week.

Oxford City Council’s executive board will be asked to approve a plan to knock down Lucy Faithfull House and then to use the land for up to 50 new apartments.

The council paid £450,000 to secure the whole property in August. Demolition of the Speedwell Street building is likely to cost about £300,000.

The hostel was built on land leased by the council in 1976.

The building has 61 bedrooms but the council said it is ‘poorly configured for modern use' and in a ‘poor state of repair’.

A petition to reopen the building was presented to the council in April. Campaigners said it was a perfect place for the city's homeless.

Green Party leader on Oxford City Council David Thomas said the plan to knock the building down is ‘heartless’.

He said: “There’s no reason plans to flatten Lucy Faithfull House couldn’t be put on hold until early next year so the building could provide much needed emergency winter accommodation.

“If Greens were in charge, we’d be getting Lucy Faithfull House geared up right now to get people off the streets this winter.”

The council has yet to reveal when the building will be knocked down if the executive board approves the demolition next Monday. It was closed because of budget cuts last year.

The council has said more beds for homeless people will be provided than when Lucy Faithfull House was open.