A TOWN centre office block branded a "grot spot" will become a beacon building for Huddersfield, it is said.

NTL House at Market Street was labelled as one of the town centre's biggest eyesores by Examiner readers.

But chartered surveyor Mark Hanson, who is acting for the property's owners, said it was set to become one of the most desirable and modern office buildings in the town.

Work is nearing completion on £500,000 facelift for the 10-storey property.

The work includes a new entrance and showroom, new lifts and improved access for disabled people to ensure NTL House meets the new Disability Discrimination Act.

Mr Hanson said that four floors of NTL House, including the ground floor, had also been pre-let to a single tenant who was also investing heavily in the building.

Mr Hanson said he could not name the tenant as the matter was still in the hands of solicitors.

He said he was also unable to identify the owners of the building.

The building was now being marketed to find tenants for the top six floors.

Mr Hanson said: "NTL House is fundamentally a good building and everything is in its favour to become a beacon building.

"It is not the only office building available for occupation in the town centre, but for anyone looking at what's on the market there is nothing to touch it."

He said following the refit, the building would be one of only a few older properties in the town centre to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.

Telecoms company NTL closed its Huddersfield headquarters building two years ago when 39 staff transferred to other NTL sites.

The building had been leased by NTL and its forerunner CableTel since 1995 - at one stage employing 300 call centre, sales and counter staff.

The 35,000sq ft building had previously housed Huddersfield Job Centre, which moved to purpose-built offices next to the civic centre. NTL House was owned by property company Evans of Leeds, but was recently sold to the unnamed buyer.