A DERELICT former Worcester gym is set to be demolished and replaced with a huge accommodation block for 56 students.

Butler’s Health and Fitness Gym in Farrier Street has been empty since it closed down in July 2010 after npower cut off electricity supply to the building.

But the gym’s former management has sold the site to developers who are planning to turn the land into accommodation for students at Abbey College, Malvern.

Crystalight, of Cheltenham, wants to create a 40ft four-storey block containing flats with kitchen and dining facilities on each floor.

There will also be a dedicated drop-off area for cars at the front of the building and space for 50 bicycles to be stored in the basement.

The plan, which is being recommended for approval by Worcester City Council’s planners, also includes two small landscaped courtyards.

A report, which is going to the council’s planning committee on Thursday, says the building has been empty “for a considerable period of time” and “has been actively marketed without success”.

Under the council’s planning guidelines, fitness centres are meant to be retained, but officers say the building is in a poor condition and has not attracted any interest from the industry.

Planning officer Alan Coleman said: “This would indicate the building is no longer a feasible proposition for continued leisure use. Given the state of disrepair of the building I consider it would be incapable of being adapted to accommodate an alternative leisure use.”

Abbey College decided to plough ahead with the deal because it was struggling to find suitable accommodation in Malvern.

The location of the former gym is also within easy walking distance of the train station.

Mark Godson, of the agents SF Planning, on behalf of the college, said: “The college has a lot of property in Malvern but trying to find suitable new accommodation is difficult. It’s so close to the train station, which goes directly into Malvern, so it was seen as a real opportunity.

“SF Planning has been working with the council on this proposal for some time now, and we are looking forward to this currently derelict site being redeveloped with an exciting scheme that has the full support of officers.”