Up to 100 jobs could be created following the acquisition of a derelict factory by Brighton and Hove City Council.

As freeholder, the council has bought the long leasehold interest in Westergate House on Fairway industrial estate in Moulsecoomb, Brighton, with the backing of the city's Regeneration Partnership and the South-East England Development Agency (Seeda).

The building had been empty for almost two years and was becoming more and more of an eyesore. The plan is to rebuild or renovate the site so it can employ local people.

Westergate House has 22,000sqft of space, split roughly between offices and industrial space.

Eb4U, the regeneration body in the area, has commissioned a feasibility study into future uses, which could include light industrial workshops, offices and small business start-up units.

One proposal is to create a construction training complex.

Councillor Don Turner, deputy chairman of the culture and regeneration committee, said the council was absolutely delighted to be able to bring the building back into employment use.

He said: "It's good for East Brighton and good for the city as a whole."

The purchase was a partnership effort, with the council buying back the long lease on the building (100 years unexpired at a peppercorn rent), using Single Regeneration Budget funds approved by the Regeneration Partnership and Seeda.

MacConvilles managed the regeneration funding application and the project and Cluttons acted on behalf of the council.

Flude Commercial advised the long leaseholder EL Hatley Trust No 1 Ltd and is understood to have been quoting an asking price of about £650,000.

Coun Turner said work on Westergate House would complement a wider regeneration scheme, which would also be funded through SRB and eb4U funds to improve the entire Fairway estate.

The £200,000 scheme is due to start this summer.

It will fund improvements to signage, security (lighting and boundary gates), landscaping, paving and the access road.