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18
May
Council set to sell £1.3m Harrogate Victorian townhouse
North Yorkshire Council is set to sell a £1.3 million townhouse in Harrogate.
The site on 54 York Place was previously leased out to a housing association by the council, which in turn let the property out as individual flats.
The Victorian house, which dates back to 1895 and overlooks the Stray, consists of eight flats and a coach house.
The council put the property on the market with an asking price of £1.3 million after deeming it surplus to requirements.
The site at 54 York Place. Picture: Align Property Partners.
Now, in a report before Cllr Gareth Dadd, deputy leader and executive councillor for finance and resources, the authority has approved plans to sell the property.
The report, which was written by Neil Hughes, head of commercial at the council, said the move would help by “reducing ongoing liabilities and generating capital receipts”.
Mr Hughes said:
The recommendations support the council’s duty to manage its asset base effectively and achieve value for money by ensuring property is retained only where it supports service delivery or wider council priorities.
Where no ongoing requirement is identified, disposal on the open market is the most appropriate means of achieving best consideration, reducing ongoing liabilities and generating a capital receipt that can be applied in line with the council’s capital strategy.
Mr Hughes added that a preferred bidder had been identified.
A council spokesperson told the Stray Ferret that the property had not yet been sold and the report was written to make a decision on progressing the sale.
The move comes as the council has looked to rationalise some of its properties over the last three years to make savings.
In 2023, the council sought to sell Jesmond House on Victoria Avenue in Harrogate which was previously the offices for adult social care staff working for the authority.
As well as Jesmond House, the authority reviewed other buildings in Malton, Skipton, Northallerton, Scarborough and Richmond.
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