Disposal of the Municipal Offices

The Municipal Offices (MO) is an iconic building which plays a prominent role in shaping Cheltenham’s town centre identity. As the long-standing home of Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC), it has a direct influence on a number of the council’s strategic objectives, from creating a collaborative working environment that attracts and retains top talent through to maintaining an efficient cost base.

In a report to Full Council in April 2015, it was acknowledged that remaining in the Municipal Offices was not a viable option for the future. Since that date, the council has purchased a number of investment properties that could meet the operational requirements of its workforce in a reduced office ‘footprint’.

The CBC organisation and the shape of its workforce have changed significantly over the years, leaving the asset underutilised. Occupancy studies have established that the number of CBC employees that the building needs to accommodate is considerably less than at certain times in the past. The CBC operating model and accelerated adoption of hybrid working in a post pandemic world is not optimised by the condition and internal layout of the building. This has presented a timely opportunity to reflect on what the long-term purpose and uses of the MO building are so that it continues to play an active role in shaping a vibrant future for the town centre, while enabling CBC to remain financially sustainable.

Appointment of an agent and next steps

The Municipal Offices offer an unrivalled opportunity, likely to draw local, regional and national interest.

Following a recent procurement process, commercial real estate agent, Avison Young has been appointed to market the sale of the Municipal Offices in Cheltenham. The agent will help to find a buyer for the iconic and much loved, town centre building.

The offices will not be marketed immediately, as an important first step will be for the agents to take time to familiarise themselves with the property. They will then create a marketing strategy which will carefully reflect market conditions, potential purchasers, the local economy and will also take into account stakeholder engagement and consultation.  The final strategy will then be considered and agreed at a meeting of Full Council prior to proceeding to the open market.

It is expected that any sale will take two to three years before redevelopment would take place. During this time, the council will continue to occupy the space alongside a number of short-term let tenants. 

Contact

For further information, please contact Abi Marshall, development manager, by email to [email protected], or call 01242 264171.