A problem building in the heart of Great Yarmouth is being tackled with a compulsory purchase order.

%image(14560211, type="article-full", alt="The "jetted" section of 160 King Street, Yarmouth's last timber-framed building. Photo: Liz Coates")

Great Yarmouth Borough Council wants to buy 160 King Street, the last timber-framed building standing.

If the order goes ahead the Grade II listed structure will be taken on by the Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust.

The trust has a proven track record rescuing properties along the historic thoroughfare including 133, 135, and Fatso's restaurant.

Darren Barker, project director for the trust, said it was a 'very significant' property.

%image(14755660, type="article-full", alt="A compulsory purchase order notice is pinned to 160 King Street, a former restaurant that has fallen in to disrepair. Photo: Liz Coates")

The last timber-framed building in the town it was also 'jetted' which means the upper floors overhang the lower ones.

Its timber structure could be viewed from the alleyway where it was also clear that gutters were completing blocked.

Dating from the 1500's it was an important survival.

MORE: Council steps in to save last of its kind building in Great Yarmouth from collapsing on itselfIt's steeply pitched roof meant the building was once thatched, a material that was banned in the 16th century after a series of disastrous fires.

Mr Barker said the building was in a serious state of disrepair that would cost some £300,000 to put right, more than the property was going to be worth creating a conservation deficit.

However in terms of its contribution to the town's historic fabric it was 'priceless' the alternative being it would be lost forever.

Ultimately the idea was to find a sustainable use that would generate income while it remained in trust ownership.

Once the building has been properly assessed it is hoped that heritage funders like the National Lottery will step in to help.

He said: 'The trust has to generate enough income to keep the property maintained into the future for everyone's enjoyment.'

The ground floor shop was last used as a Thai restaurant, but had been empty for around six years.

An earlier council report said the property was managed through the executors of a will.

Enforcement action aimed at bringing about the required improvements had not been complied with, leading the council down the compulsory purchase route.

The cost to the council has been put at around £57,000.

King Street is one of the three main north-to-south streets in Yarmouth.