PEOPLE living in Perivale want to see an unoccupied warehouse put to good use.

The site at Unit 31 on Horsenden Lane South has been vacant for the last four years, after Empire Direct went into administration and moved out in 2009.

Since then, nothing has been done with this run down building owned by Hermes Real Estate Investment Ltd.

Alex Nieora, head of a residents association in Perivale, said the outside of the property is dated, dirty and sandwiched between rows of residential homes.

He said: “It has become an eyesore for local residents and passers by. The shutters have been drawn for the last four years with no sign of life. The site attracts litter and although the old Empire Direct facia has been removed it has simply revealed the older and grottier facia beneath it."

Mr Nieora said that people want to see the warehouse sold for redevelopment as a convenience store or residential premises, and that they cannot understand why a site in such a prominent and visible location has not been put to profitable use."

Edward Rennie, Perivale ward councillor, said: "At the moment it is for business use only so it cannot be redeveloped for housing. However, I think it could be transferred to residential use in the future in which case the structure could be demolished and rebuilt, in keeping with the architecture of the area."

He added: “Getting a business to set up shop there is not easy in the current economic climate. Being near the tube, the transport links are excellent for this site, it just hasn’t received enough interest yet. I do think there is a possibility for redeveloping it as residential property as we do have a shortage of housing in Ealing.”

Justin Anderson, Perivale ward councillor, said that he passes by the unit everyday and although the whole area has been improved it is still not pleasing on the eye and does not reflect Perivale in its true light.