Cheshire East Council is looking into whether any action can be taken under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to clean up Crewe's deteriorating Rail House building.

Built in 1967, the 13-storey structure on Gresty Road was originally used as the central office for the London Midland Region of British Railways.

Almost six decades later, South Cheshire's tallest building sees its windows smashed on a regular basis, with Nub News counting over 50 broken.

Built in 1967, Rail House was originally used as the central office for the London Midland Region of British Railways (Ryan Parker).

Following British Rail's privatisation in the 1990s, ownership of Rail House passed into private hands, with the floors of the building leased out to private companies.

In 2016, plans were submitted to Cheshire East for a change of use of all 13 floors to residential.

This was refused by the council with parts of the building continuing to be used as offices.

Prior approval to convert the Crewe South building into 168 apartments was later given by the local authority, which has now expired.

Since then, all floors of Rail House (except for the ground floor) have been extensively stripped back, preparing the site for future use.

With the site in close proximity to Crewe Railway Station and Crewe Alexandra Football Club and visually polluting the local area, local residents have called for action.

One said: "Does anyone know if anyone is living in Rail House? There seems to be quite a lot of windows smashed on each floor. What an eyesore it is becoming."

Chair of Cheshire East Council's environment and communities committee, Cllr Mick Warren (CEC).

Chair of Cheshire East Council's environment and communities committee, Cllr Mick Warren, told Nub News: "Rail House is not owned by the council and prior approval given by the Local Planning Authority for a change of use from offices to apartments has now expired.

"In certain circumstances, the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 provides local planning authorities with the power to take steps requiring land to be cleaned up when its condition adversely affects the amenity of the area.

"The council is considering whether any action can be taken under the act."

READ MORE: Two vans damaged in 2am Crewe arson attack.

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