Cheltenham's municipal offices prepare for sale

By Nicky Godding

13 March 2024

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Cheltenham's Municipal Offices

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 this iconic, town centre building.

Ahead of putting the offices on the open market, the agents will prepare a marketing strategy to 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.

Cheltenham Borough Councillor Rowena Hay, leader said: ‘’This is an excellent step forward. We are pleased with the outcome of a thorough procurement process which has led to the appointment of Avison Young and it’s great to have them on board as we move ahead with the sale of our much loved building.

‘’The Municipal Offices is a beautiful building and our ambition is to preserve it in all its glory. We are absolutely committed to safeguard it, respect the heritage of its setting, while taking every opportunity offered by modern architecture, technology and new building materials. This will allow a development that improves its surroundings and creates space for future use, leaving an appropriate legacy.

‘’Now that we are working with Avison Young, we can move ahead and start exploring future options for the building.’’

Gordon Isgrove, principal at Avison Young added: “This is a truly special building and for prospective purchasers, it represents an exceptional opportunity in the heart of Cheltenham and adjoining the main retail pitch. We are anticipating strong interest from developers who are looking to create a very special development that benefits from this unique position.”

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.

By Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe.

After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts.

She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.