Council to sell former HQ to housing company

South Norfolk House is to be sold to the council's housing firm and demolished

A council is to sell its former headquarters to its own housing company for an undisclosed fee after a last-ditch attempt to hand it to the community was defeated by one vote.

The meeting of South Norfolk Council saw several members push for an alternative bid to be picked instead.

It was proposed that the Long Stratton offices, called South Norfolk House (SHNG), would be turned into a community and creative arts centre.

Clayton Hudson, an independent councillor, called the outcome “regrettable” and a “hammer blow” for the community.

The proposal was put forward by Labour’s Stratton councillor Georgina Race with the initial vote being tied 21-21.

The tie was broken by council chairman, James Easter, with the Conservative-run authority voting to sell SNH to Big Sky, a housing developer wholly owned by the authority.

Ms Race said the community bid would have prevented the demolition of the building.

“SNH is only 50 years old. It's a lovely building," she said.

“We already have 1,800 homes being built in Long Stratton which will double the town in size.

"We should give the bidder the chance to do something for the community.

“I’m quite gutted it didn’t go through.”

John Fuller, Conservative leader of the council, was not at the meeting but said the Big Sky bid was the best value for money.

"We have a limited number of options that we could do legally, and law is clear that the best bid needs to proceed," he said.

A working group will be established to investigate providing a community facility for Long Stratton.