Aberdeenshire Council has begun marketing its vacant properties in Peterhead as it prepares to move to a modern £5m headquarters in the town.
A two-storey office building in the port’s Queen Street – formerly occupied by children’s charity Barnardo’s – was put up for sale this week with a £75,000 price tag.
The current council base, Arbuthnot House in Broad Street, is already up for sale. It is understood the historic building could be transformed into a hotel.
Councillors have called for a marketing strategy to be put in place to avoid the buildings lying empty for too long.
Last night, an Aberdeenshire Council spokeswoman commenting on 64 Queen Street said: “This particular office space is no longer required by the council and the last thing we want to do is have properties left empty to the detriment of the areas in which they are situated.
“This particular building offers prime office space in the centre of Peterhead and any interested parties should contact the Estates Manager.”
The new Buchan House facility in St Peter Street will have office space for up to 200 staff as well as committee and marriage rooms. It will also be home to the area manager Chris White’s office and registrar.
It is thought the new building could bring running costs down from £378,000 to just under £200,000, as it has been designed to be energy-efficient.
Selling assets, including Arbuthnot House and the Glenugie Business Centre, could generate more than £1.5m.
Arbuthnot House in Broad Street currently plays host to the monthly Buchan Area Committee and meetings of the Peterhead Community Council.
Earlier this year council leader Jim Gifford moved to allay fears the building – on the market for £450,000 – would lie empty for years by vowing to improve how quickly attempts were made to sell it off.
The decision to relocate all council services in the north-east’s biggest town has proved controversial in some quarters.
The St Peter Street site, on which the frame of Buchan House is now in place, was previously used for car parking and some residents argued the cut in parking spaces could hit town centre shops.
It is understood Buchan House could open as soon as March next year.