A former care home in Elgin is to be demolished to make way for housing.
Bishopmill House has been empty since the late 1990s, and only used since then for emergency accommodation during local flooding events.
The premises is dated, deemed to be in a poor condition and unsuitable for refurbishment due to the high cost involved.
Other commercial uses have been investigated by the council, but have all been deemed unviable.
Members approved the demolition proposals in private yesterday.
The local authority’s estates manager Stuart Beveridge told councillors the materials will be recycled as crushed masonry and used for up-filling on council-owned land at Moycroft and Chanonry industrial estates.
“This will save the council £22,000 in material costs compared to using new up-fill from a quarry, as well as over £11,000 in landfill costs,” he said.
Demolition of the property is estimated to cost £130,000, but this will be recouped by the sale of the site for housing development.
Elgin city north councillor Pasty Gowans said: “I agree that Bishopmill Hall as it stands is no longer fit for purpose.
“It would cost the council more to make it and it is actually cheaper to build from new.
“I’m sure people will welcome the news if the plan after the demolition is to use the site for housing.”
In October, 2011, councillors decided to drop plans to convert Bishopmill House into flats for 22 homeless people due to a downturn in homeless applications.
Prior to that, the disused building was last used as temporary housing for victims of flooding in September 2009.
The former care home has always been a point of local contention since, as early fears that letting it run to ruin would attract antisocial behaviour have largely proven true.
Following the failed development for the homeless, former Elgin city north councillor Barry Jarvis was outspoken about the necessity of finding some use for it before it fell victim to its current fate.
Last night, he said: “The council has struggled for years to find a suitable way to utilise Bishopmill House with a number of options having been explored over the years.
“I just hope that when selling the land the council gives not only due consideration to those neighbouring the site but also to the possibility of a third sector organisation that could put the land to a social purpose that benefits the whole community.”