The potential sale of Cheltenham’s Municipal Offices has come under scrutiny following the relocation of council housing staff to the historic Promenade building, sparking fears that the sale could collapse like the recent Gloucestershire Airport deal.
Cheltenham Borough Council has been negotiating the sale of its Municipal Offices with preferred bidder Almiranta Capital since May last year. The proposed plan includes transforming the grade II-listed building into a luxury spa under new ownership.
However, the recent move of council housing staff from the Hesters Way Community Resource Centre to the Promenade building has raised concerns among employees and residents. A council worker, speaking anonymously, expressed unease: “Moving our services away from the community is troubling, and it makes you wonder why staff are being transferred into a building that’s supposedly up for sale.”
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Council leader Rowena Hay (LD, Oakley) acknowledged these concerns during the full council meeting on March 23, emphasizing the uncertainty that large property deals can face. “Any deal could fall through — it could happen just like with the airport,” she stated. “But at this point, while the ongoing due diligence is positive, I cannot confirm the sale is guaranteed. Big commercial deals often face hurdles, and that’s just the reality of the business.”
A council spokesperson confirmed that the council routinely reviews its office locations to optimize operations. “Any staff relocations will be carefully managed to ensure that community services remain unaffected,” they said. “We currently remain in an exclusivity period with our preferred bidder for the sale of the Municipal Offices.”
As negotiations continue, the future of the Municipal Offices remains uncertain, with staff relocations fueling speculations about the success of the sale.