Two vital Essex County Council properties in Colchester are to be sold and a new "regional HQ" set up in Stanway.

The council intends to sell off two of its historic properties, East Hill House and its learning and environmental services base in Park Road, Lexden, and reinvest the money to upgrade St Albright's in London Road, Stanway.

Alan Walker, the county council's property management manager, said the building would be extended and refurbished to concentrate services in a more modern setting and would be "a multi-million pound investment".

He added no jobs were under threat.

Mr Walker said: "It is just simply releasing the facilities that are there and providing them in new accommodation."

A detailed feasibility study has been conducted into the best way to renovate the grade two listed building since the idea was mooted over 18 months ago.

Mr Walker said ultimately there was capacity at St Albright's, a former Victorian workhouse, for 600 staff, but that capability would not be exploited at this stage.

Currently, the building is only partially occupied and Mr Walker said the intention was to create a group of offices available for a range of uses for any future needs, which could include the council's partners such as the health authority to increase its flexibility.

"What we are trying to do is develop a flexible response to delivering services in Colchester that is made to meet the needs of the community."

"Services are changing all the time and there may well be new services developed over the next two years that may find a home in there."

Mr Walker said its location would provide better links to the A12 and benefit from better accessibility to people using public transport.

He said neither East Hill House, itself a listed building, or the property in Park Road would be sold until the new accommodation was completed to avoid any loss of service provision.

The sale at the East Hill site would only include the main building and not affect the other social services stationed there or the playing field behind.

As well as this the county council plans to retain its use of Stanwell House to maintain a town centre presence.

Mr Walker said the plans were still being finalised and would be presented to councillors in the next month or so. If agreed he hoped St Albright's would be operational within two years.

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