The public has overwhelmingly backed plans for derelict mansion St Mary’s Lodge to be brought back into public use.

Hackney Council published a planning brief in October to ask people what they wanted to see happen to the 19th century building in Lordship Road, Stoke Newington.

It has been closed since it was gutted in a fire in 2005 and the town hall has spent years wrangling with different owners over its future.

The two options include restoring the lodge on its own and turning it into a school, or transforming the whole site and also building affordable housing.

Of the 43 people who responded, 85 per cent strongly agreed with the plans, with more preferring the second option due to the inclusion of new homes.

Town hall planning chief, Cllr Guy Nicholson said: “This will provide a set of guidelines for the future development, with the intention of bringing this historic building back to life.”