PERMISSION to demolish a listed building was expected to be granted last night - nearly two months after it was destroyed in a suspected arson attack.

The three-storey sanitary warehouse on the Moore & Brock site in Northwich was earmarked to be a centrepiece of the Northwich Vision's planned cultural centre.

But it was demolished after being gutted by arsonists in a blaze in the early hours of May 2.

Members of Vale Royal Borough Council's planning committee were meeting last night and were expected to approve a retrospective application to demolish the building and clear the site.

A report to planners stated: 'As the site is within a conservation area, under normal circumstances the demolition would not be allowed until there are acceptable proposals for the site's redevelopment. This is not applicable in the case.'

The Grade-II listed building was to be part of the cultural centre, part of a retail-led regeneration of the Baron's Quay area. Three alternative plans drawn up showed that the warehouse would have been refurbished and formed part of the project.

Council chiefs say the fire will not delay the cultural centre.