Uncertainty surrounds the sale of Cheltenham’s Municipal Offices as council staff are being relocated to the historic Promenade building, raising questions about the future of the premises. The iconic Municipal Offices, currently the headquarters of Cheltenham Borough Council, have been in talks to be sold to Almiranta Capital, with plans reportedly to transform the site into a luxury spa.
Negotiations have been ongoing since May last year, but recent moves to transfer council housing staff from the Hesters Way Community Resource Centre to the Grade II-listed Promenade building have sparked speculation about the sale’s status. One council employee, speaking anonymously, expressed concern: “Aside from moving our services away from the community, it’s puzzling why staff are moving into a building that’s supposedly being sold.”
Council leader Rowena Hay (Lib Dem, Oakley) acknowledged the risks involved during the full council meeting on March 23, admitting that the deal could possibly collapse, similar to the previous Gloucestershire Airport sale. However, she emphasized that currently, the outlook remains positive. “Although deals of this magnitude sometimes fall through, the ongoing due diligence and communications are encouraging,” she said.
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A council spokesperson highlighted that relocating staff is a routine review of operational premises and assured that community engagement would remain uninterrupted during any transitions. The council remains in an exclusivity period with the preferred bidder for the Municipal Offices sale, underscoring ongoing negotiations despite the prevailing concerns.