COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Still on the market... council chiefs say there is 'no rush' to sell the Council House building, despite it being up for sale for more than a year



NUNEATON'S former Council House building remains up for sale – more than a year after it was put on the market.

Despite saying, back in May, that a deal 'was close', Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council has still not sold the prominent building, which used to house much of its workforce.

In fact, council bosses have said that there is 'no urgency' to sell the building, despite it being on the market since last year.

A Town Hall spokesperson added that the local authority wants to ensure that it strikes the best deal, not only financially but for the future of the town centre itself.

"The Council House continues to attract much interest and we have received several offers," the spokesperson said.

"For commercial reasons it would be inappropriate to discuss our negotiations with any third party.

"While we are keen to sell the property, there is no urgency to do so and it's important that we secure the right deal, not only in terms of sale price, but also in respect of the added value the development will bring to the town.

"The property is in a prime location and the plans that potential purchasers have for the building feature in our decision-making."

The Council House has been on the market since 2016 and there has been several occasions when the council has said that talks are ongoing.

It was revealed in December last year that funds raised from the sale or rent of the Council House will be used to buy properties, which will be available to rent.

However, it is still unclear if council itself will be in charge of the new properties or if it will be the trading arm of the council, known as Nuneaton and Bedworth Community Enterprises LTD (NABCEL).

Nuneaton Council House is sold to make way for new flats

Nuneaton's Council House has finally been sold - and is set to be converted into flats.

After more than a year on the market, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council has struck a deal to sell the former council house.

As contracts have not officially been exchanged, information on who it has been sold to and for how much has to remain confidential.

However, it has been confirmed that the building, which sits next to the Town Hall and was once home to scores of employees, will be converted into residential apartments.

A spokesperson for the borough council said: "At this stage we have received an acceptable offer and will progress the sale.

"The intention would be to convert the council house into residential apartments but until we exchange contractors we can't say anything more."

Les Snowden, the head of estates and emergency planning at the borough council, was officially given permission, under delegated authority by an officer, to forge ahead with the sale on Wednesday, September 6.

But at the time of going to press, no further information about the deal was available.

What is known is that the sale, once it has gone through, will bring to an end a saga that has run for more than year.

It was in the summer of 2015 that the council revealed that it planned to either sell off or rent the building but it was not put on the market until the start of last year.

Staff were moved out of the building, with some relocating to the Town Hall while others were asked to 'hot desk' so that the building could be sold.

From day one, the cash-strapped authority has said that the decision to no longer use the Council House building was not only to raise some much-needed revenue, but to also implement more agile working and make full use of the space in the Town Hall.