Former library goes up for sale for £2.6m

Mike Gray, director of Dedman Gray, said the firm was expecting interest from developers

A former library has been put up for sale for £2.6m by a council.

Delaware House, in Shoebury, Essex was previously home to a library on the first floor and a blood test clinic on the ground floor alongside a nursery.

However, it has remained empty for several years.

Mike Gray, director of property group Dedman Gray, said: "Instructions have been received from Southend-on-Sea City Council for a sale to take place of the entire vacant premises and site as it has been surplus to requirements in recent years.

"Many local residents will have fond memories of using the facilities for various reasons over the years," he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"The guide price for an outright purchase is £2.6m and we feel this opportunity may be of interest to a wide range of investors and property companies.

"The site does offer excellent residential redevelopment opportunities subject to obtaining the necessary planning consents that would be required.

"It is planned to be on the market throughout July with offers being invited around the end of the month."

Paul Collins, councillor responsible for finance, assets and investments, said selling the building would allow the council to invest in council homes elsewhere.

He said: "By releasing these land assets, it enables us to use money at other sites for social housing that we want to build.

"This is the best return we can get from this project and enables us to use the money elsewhere for housebuilding. It would not be financially viable for the council to build on this site."