A FORGOTTEN town centre building has been brought back to life thanks to a £1.5m affordable homes project.

In their biggest Empty House project to date, Darlington Council and developer Coast and Country have converted the former derelict office block, Regent House, into a luxurious apartment building.

The property, on Commercial Street, was previously home to HM Revenue and Customs until 2012 where it then remained unused for two years.

This made it a prime candidate for the Empty House project which renovates old, run down or derelict buildings to create modern apartments.

Anthony Brown, director of property and assets for Coast and Country, said: “These apartments provide high quality yet affordable housing for locals, with smart meters in a state of the art communal heating system which is low cost and high performance.

“We worked very closely with colleges during the project offering valuable work experience, apprenticeships and employment opportunities.”

The development took 18-months to complete from the planning stage and the new residents will benefit from a range of initiatives including free access to Wi-Fi for their first six months.

Benefit and money advice teams will also be available, alongside a Journey into Work Scheme which aims to help the jobless back into employment.

Ada Burns, chief executive of Darlington Council, praised the development and said; “It’s a great use of a redundant building and a well-needed addition to the community.

“I think it’s wonderful, it’s going to be great for the town centre and so convenient for the people who live here.”

Bill Dixon, leader of Darlington Borough Council, added: “I think it’s fantastic that an empty building that was once an eyesore, has been converted into 47 luxurious apartments that we were in need of.”

Laura Wood, PR coordinator for Coast and County, said: “We want to be the best that we can be for our tenants, whether that’s giving them guidance about money budgeting or helping them with employment opportunities.”

The show home was also only furnished with up-cycled furniture working with Re:Furnish Emporium, and apprentices to help show people how to furnish a place at a cost effective price with old furniture.

Ms Wood said: “We’re offering more than just a place to live; we’re giving them a community and a place that can enrich their lives.”

The building was officially opened today (Thursday June 4) by Sue Snowdon, Lord Lieutenant of County Durham.