Harrogate Borough Council confirmed today that it has exchanged contracts on the sale of its Crescent Gardens offices in Harrogate.
Local property company, Adam Thorpe Property Group PLC is purchasing the property through a wholly owned subsidiary, ATP (Crescent Gardens) LTD. The sale includes the stretch of road fronting the current council offices and is subject to planning.
On top of the purchase price, ATP (Crescent Gardens) LTD will also be making a contribution to public realm improvements in the wider Crescent Gardens area.
The purchaser’s proposal is to transform the building into 14 apartments, an art gallery, restaurant and two retail units. The inclusion of an art gallery and restaurant in the design will ensure that the building’s central civic spaces will be preserved so that they can be enjoyed by members of the public in the future. ATP (Crescent Gardens) LTD estimates that around 45 permanent jobs will be created, which will boost the local economy.
The council’s Crescent Gardens offices attracted significant interest when they were put up for sale and following a competitive bidding process, a number of bids were evaluated for both their capital value and the wider economic benefit they would deliver for the town.
This is one of a number of disposals which will help facilitate the council’s move to a new purpose built Civic Centre on its Knapping Mount site, which will open in September 2017. The new Civic Centre is expected to generate around £1 million in efficiency savings per year.
In January 2017, Harrogate Borough Council completed the sale of its Victoria Park House offices in Harrogate to local developer, Hornbeam Park Developments, for £1 million. Hornbeam Park Developments is proposing to redevelop the site and create new Grade A office accommodation, which could accommodate 150 full time jobs on site and 120 jobs during the construction phase.
The council is also progressing the sale of its Scottsdale House offices, which are located on Springfield Avenue in Harrogate. A preferred bidder was approved in February and the council’s legal team are currently making good progress with the contract negotiations.
Wallace Sampson, Chief Executive of Harrogate Borough Council said: We are delighted to have exchanged contracts on our Crescent Gardens offices to a Harrogate based business.
We received a significant number of bids and felt that as well as being a strong financial offer, ATP (Crescent Gardens) LTD’s proposed use of the building as high quality residential accommodation, art gallery, restaurant and retail units was fitting for the town centre location.
It is fantastic that we have been able to progress the sale of this iconic building together with other assets ahead of our move to our new civic headquarters later this year.
Adam Thorpe of Adam Thorpe Property Group commented: We are delighted to be bringing an exciting scheme to life for Harrogate which will be a flagship outside of London. The restoration of the area with a combination of private residences alongside the Art Gallery and public gardens is a unique opportunity for all involved. Historic and civic values have been very important in our consideration as well as providing a legacy for this area going forwards.
A business case is yet to be put into the public domain justifying the sale of Crescent Gardens and the development of a new office.
