HISTORIC council offices on a prestigious town square have been sold off for more than �1million.

James Mortlock

HISTORIC council offices on a prestigious town square have been sold off for more than �1million.

The St Edmundsbury Borough Council offices on Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, have been sold to M&D Developments Ltd, which expects to submit a planning application for permission to keep the frontage as offices, with the rear of the building being converted to residential use. Contracts were exchanged at the end of January with completion set for July.

Nigel Aitkens, St Edmundsbury cabinet member for economy and asset management said: “The borough offices is a prominent building on Angel Hill and I am looking forward to seeing it move into the next stage of its development, adding another chapter to the town's history.

“The agreed price is a good one considering the current economic climate and helps to meet the requirements of the business plan for West Suffolk House. This sees us disposing of surplus or out-of-date assets to provide a new, shared building which is cheaper to run, more environmentally friendly and, above all, providing annual savings year in year out for council tax payers.”

West Suffolk House is the new headquarters for St Edmundsbury, bringing together staff from its two current sites, and will be shared with Suffolk County Council staff moving from Shire Hall. Services move there over three weekends from the end of March to Easter.

The Borough Offices will close on Friday 3 April.