The first stage in the process of selling the Manor House, a Georgian residence and former museum on Honey Hill, Bury St Edmunds, starts later this week. Advertisements are being placed in the local media and Estates Gazette inviting people to send in expressions of interest.
The Manor House, an attractive Georgian (built 1736-38) grade 1 listed building, owned by St Edmundsbury Borough Council since 1988, has planning consent for office use. An application for change of use to two homes is due to go to the Development Control Committee later this year. Once the planning consents are finalised formal tenders will be invited and, it is expected, the building sold early in 2007.
The Manor House, which was formerly used as a house and then as offices before becoming a museum in 1993, closed earlier this year following the Heritage Services Review. As a result of the review the council is focusing its heritage services on the Moyse's Hall Museum which, unlike the Manor House, is in the town centre, and the highly popular West Stow Country Park and Anglo-Saxon Village, which attracts over 100,000 visitors a year.
Cllr Nigel Aitkens, St Edmundsbury Cabinet member for Economy and Asset Management, said:
"We expect tremendous interest in the Manor House and are looking forward to the next stage of the building’s history, which may well be similar to its original use as a town house. Following the successful conversion of the West Front, we are expecting best possible value for our Council Taxpayers.”
ENDS
ISSUED BY MARIANNE HULLAND, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757034. marianne.hulland@stedsbc.gov.uk
