A former Council-run care home which closed in the face of strong opposition has been put up for sale.

Bradford Council is inviting offers for Holme View Care Home, in Holme Wood, Bradford, and nearby land fronting Mead View in Gillingham Green on the estate.

Would-be buyers have not been given a guide price, but the closing date for offers by informal tender is Friday, January 19, according to an official public notice.

A Council spokesman said: “Holme View is no longer fit for purpose as a care home and so the property is therefore being marketed for sale and steps have been taken to protect the building, which will include potential demolition in the event that there is no market demand for the property.

“The Council is conscious of protecting the environment of the area.”

Ward councillor Alan Wainwright (Lab) said he would like to see the site used for more housing.

“It will be a brownfield site so houses could be built on it. Any sort of houses, the country needs it. If it doesn’t sell and isn’t put to use then it would be wise for the Council to demolish it so we don’t have it standing empty and causing problems on the estate.”

The public notice invites offers, subject to contract, to buy the freehold interest with vacant possession of the home and land.

It says the site has a combined area of 1.6 acres and may be suitable for a range of uses subject to planning.

There were emotional scenes in City Hall in June when Council bosses made a final decision to close the specialist care home for people with dementia.

Relatives of people living in the home had been fighting a campaign to keep it open while the existing residents lived out the rest of their lives.

And a petition calling for the home to be saved had attracted 2,481 signatures.

But the Council’s decision-making Executive opted to press ahead with the closure plan, citing concerns over the state of the building.

The Council estimated it would have cost £1m to bring the home up to scratch, while closing it would save money. In 2016/17, the authority spent £1.5m on running it, with income only coming to £352,084.

The facility had been rated as good by health watchdogs the Care Quality Commission at its last inspection.

Bev Maybury, strategic director for health and wellbeing, had acknowledged the care in the home was good and the staff were dedicated but she said the rooms and corridors were too small and did not meet the latest standards.

She had also said some residents were only in their early 60s, so keeping the home open while they lived out their lives would not be viable.

However, she had pledged residents from the home would be supported to make a gradual transition into other homes over a period of many months.

She added that 162 empty beds were available across the district for people with specialist dementia needs.