A PUB that has lain derelict for four years is to be demolished to make way for a care home, The former Greenridge at Upton crossroads has had a chequered history since being closed down by Blandford brewer Hall and Woodhouse in April 2008.

Initial plans in 2008 to build a care home above ground floor shops were rejected, but Purbeck District Council eventually granted permission for a care home in 2011.

A care home company was working with the brewery to take over the site last December, but pulled out because of economic conditions.

In February this year, Hall and Woodhouse announced that it would apply for the home to be demolished and said future options for Greenridge were unlikely to include a care home. But now a deal has been secured which could see it become a care home for up to 80 people with demtnia.

Brewery boss Anthony Woodhouse said: “We have been working on a solution for the former Greenridge public house site for many years and I am delighted to advise that we have sold the site to Waypoints Care Limited, a Dorset based care home specialist.

“This secures the future of a prominent site and will provide significant investment and much needed local jobs for the local community. We look forward to seeing it developed over the coming months.”

Martin Young, managing director of Waypoints Care Group, said: “‘Waypoints Care is delighted to have acquired such an important strategic site, which forms an integral part of the group’s expansion plans for delivering much needed specialist dementia care across the south.

“The new development will include the provision of retail use and become an important part of the community as well as providing local employment for up to 80 people once complete.”

He added: “The new home will greatly contribute to the enhancement of the centre of Upton and we look forward to working with community groups, the town council and planning authority in the detailed development of the proposals.”

Town, district and county councillor Fred Drane welcomed the news that the site was finally going to be developed. “We have Quality Town Council status, a Keep Upton Tidy Group and Upton in Bloom, but no matter how often we try to improve the town, that eyesore is there. It was a beautiful building,” he said.