Cheltenham Borough Council has put its municipal offices up for sale as a redevelopment opportunity.
The 68,290 sq ft, Grade II listed building is a landmark in the town centre and has been occupied by the council for 100 years.
Avison Young has been appointed to find a buyer for the property that can respect its heritage while securing the optimum use for the building.
The agent has been working on a strategy to bring the building to market for several months and will work with the council on a period of community engagement prior to the new occupier moving in.
The historic building has potential to be converted into multiple uses, including commercial, offices or flats.
Daniel Rich, director at Avison Young, said: “This historic building is significant and represents an unrivalled opportunity for prospective purchasers in the heart of Cheltenham. We are anticipating strong interest from potential developers who want to take this heritage property into the future.”
He added: “We are committed to working with the council to find the right occupier who will respect this iconic Regency building, with a conservation-led approach to modernising, and we are also engaging with stakeholders to ensure viewpoints are heard before a sale is made.”
Rowena Hay, leader of Cheltenham Borough Council, described the sale as a “magical opportunity” to put the historic building back on the map.
She added: “This is an exciting time. Cheltenham is an ambitious place and we can’t wait to see what this opportunity will deliver. The social, economic and environmental benefits that will come with appropriate redevelopment of this much-loved, iconic building will allow our town to evolve and prosper.
“This also presents an exciting new time for the council and while we are committed to retaining a town centre presence for our customers and to further improve our services, we know that the time is right for us to step aside and see a new future for the municipal offices.’’
Avison Young was first instructed on the project in March but needed council cabinet sign off before being able to officially bring the opportunity to market.
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