Middlewood Church was originally built as the chapel for Middlewood Asylum and was used by the health service until the mid-1990s, when it was given Grade II listed status.

It was sold in 2003 and is understood to have changed hands several times since then.

Although planning permission and listed building consent were granted to convert it into a complex of seven apartments the work never went ahead and the permissions have since expired.

Sheffield Council has received a petition from concerned residents in the area who have told the authority they want the building, in the Middlewood Park Conservation Area, to be brought back "into productive and sustainable use".

At a meeting to be held on Tuesday planning councillors will consider a recommendation to impose a Listed Building Urgent Works Notice, which would compel the owner, Wilway Prestige Developments, to carry out work to stop the building deteriorating further. If the company did not comply with such a notice the council would then have the right to carry out the works itself and recover the costs.

However, if councillors agree, the owner would be initially given 28 days to have the work done before the notice was issued.

Middlewood Church was assessed to be in a "fair condition" at the time it was listed in 1996.

But by 1998 it had been placed on the English Heritage Listed Buildings At Risk register, with a note that it was "to be monitored" because it was in a state of slow decay.

Five years ago it was bought by Wilway Prestige Developments, with the company gaining permission for the redevelopment scheme which has now expired.

An inspection carried out by Sheffield Council in February found the building to be in a "somewhat deteriorating condition", with problems including holes in the roof, missing or blocked gutters and widespread damp.

Another problem outlined by the council was the loss of the church's floorboards and pews, which the report describes as a "serious concern".

The church is also now without its altar or any other internal fixtures. According to the council report, those items were removed before the building was acquired by its present owner.

A report to councillors states: "Much of the painted soffits had deteriorated due to the effects of cold and damp, with significant areas of peeled paintwork and several areas where lath and plasters had cracked or fallen away.

"Walls displayed similar problems to the ceilings, with areas of peeling paintwork and evidence of efflorescence.

"Although the building is generally in reasonable condition there are concerns over the interiors and the risk to the building if it continues to remain unused."

Planning experts are advising councillors: "In order to secure those parts of the building which are deemed to be in need of urgent attention, and make them safe, sound and weathertight, it is considered that in the first instance a Listed Building Urgent Works Notice be issued, in order to arrest any further deterioration of the building."