A derelict, costly NHS site will be sold and redeveloped to bring into use, it has been announced.

The Marie Foster Home building in Wood Street, Barnet, has been empty since 2011 and the derelict NHS building next to it has remained disused for more than a decade, but Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, has announced it will be released for sale and renovation.

The announcement came in a letter to MP for Chipping Barnet, Theresa Villiers, who has campaigned for the site to be turned into new homes or for healthcare, but the site is just on the market with its use as yet undecided.

Ms Villiers said: "It is scandalous that this large site in the middle of High Barnet has been empty and unused for so long. It has become increasingly derelict.

"I have been working for years to try to persuade the NHS to put it to good use, either as a GP surgery or housing, or a combination of both.

"I also want to see the proceeds of the sale of the land used to benefit the NHS in Barnet directly, rather than being returned to the general funds for NHS England or the Exchequer."

Ms Villiers added that she will now work to ensure the site is not overdeveloped and any housing to be built there is in-keeping with the surrounding conservation area, and kept down to ensure it does not add unreasonable pressure to the infrastructure.

The NHS has confirmed that proceeds from the sale of the freehold will be returned to them and they expect strong interest, with offers invited until November 8, 2018.