THE sight of a derelict historic building in Malvern Wells still faces visitors to the Malvern Hills, despite long-time approval for its development.

The former Wells House School, where Sir Edward Elgar once taught, has been empty for nearly 10 years and is still deteriorating, although its conversion into 18 apartments was approved a year ago.

Its windows are broken and boarded up, tiles have been stripped from the roof and its valuable elm floors have been taken out.

"It's such a tragedy. I find it absolutely inexcusable that this has been allowed to happen," said the school's neighbour Christopher Coopey.

"It was one of Malvern's most beautiful buildings and now it's a complete and utter eyesore. It's just a shell and anything of value has gone. Some of the outbuildings have actually fallen down."

Malvern Wells councillor John Tretheway said there was universal concern about the condition of the building, in a prominent position on the side of the hills.

"It's open to the elements and must be deteriorating," he said.

"I was full of hopes that they would get a move on when planning permission was given. They were exciting plans and the sooner work goes ahead, the better."

Owner Alistair Mustow, of Cheltenham developers AMCD, said he hoped to be able to begin the development soon.

"We're in the last throes of getting the development funding, which is about six months late," he said.

"I'm sitting here with bated breath, waiting for the go ahead.

"Unfortunately, it takes a long time to find £2.75 million. Joe Public doesn't understand how difficult it is to raise funds for these projects."

The project to develop the Wells House building, which began life as a coaching inn in 1748, had been a nightmare from start to finish, he said.

Apart from the logistical problem of getting building materials up the steep winding road and building on the hillside, he had difficulty in getting the approval of financiers for the building specifications, he said.

"We won't drop our specifications, which are the highest possible for this site," he said.

"It's got to be a first class building. It's in a prime area in everyone's viewpoint, so it's got to be of the highest quality."