The Council has a small number of properties which are no longer required for the purpose we originally acquired them.

We are seeking your feedback as part of this Draft Annual Plan to help us determine the future of each property.

A full list of the properties and more information can be found here, or navigate them in map view here.

The properties under consideration make up less than 1% of the Council’s overall portfolio and will not impact current levels of service. The Council’s property portfolio includes a diverse range of properties, and it continues to grow. Since 2011, it has increased by more than 20%.

Because owning property costs money, it’s sound financial practice to regularly review the portfolio and assess whether to retain or dispose of properties that no longer serve their original purpose.

Our first step in this process is to identify properties that may be surplus and assess them against criteria for retention. The criteria includes whether the property is being used for the purpose it was originally acquired for, its cultural, environmental or heritage value, and its potential to meet any of the Council’s immediate or longer-term needs. Properties that do not meet the retention criteria were shortlisted for consideration for disposal.

We are now at the next step: consulting the public.

If, following consultation, this proposal is adopted and included in the Annual Plan 2026/27, all properties deemed surplus will be disposed of in accordance with Council policy and standard practices:

• Policy: Properties will generally be publicly tendered for sale unless there is a clear reason to do otherwise.
• Practice: The sale will be conducted in an open, transparent, and well-advertised manner at market value. This may include methods such as auction, deadline sale, or general listing.

In some cases, the Council may consider departing from these practices to support the objectives of the Housing Policy adopted in 2016. This could involve selling land to housing providers to develop or deliver social and affordable housing.

If the land falls under the definitions of ‘Park’, under Section 138 of the Local Government Act 2002, then this disposal process, as well as this consultation document, meets the requirements of the Act.

Do you support the Council going through the formal process of selling these properties we’ve identified as surplus, or are there any you’d like the Council to retain for any reason?