The Old Town Hall in Stroud Town Centre is being offered on a long leasehold basis. Bids and details of applicant’s proposals for the use and works to the building are invited by 5pm on 13th September 2024.
The property is a Grade II* Listed two storey office building, formerly Stroud’s Old Town Hall, originally dating from 1596 with later extensions of stonework construction, pitched tiled roof, with a section of flat felt, roofs and single glazed metal, timber and stone framed windows.
The accommodation is divided to provide on the ground floor four archway storerooms, each opening directly onto The Shambles, together with two entrances, one with stairs leading up to the first floor and a second that together with stairs also has a small reception hall off which are three offices, a boiler room WC and disabled WC together with a five-person (630 kg) passenger lift to the first floor.
The accommodation at first floor level comprises a main landing connected to the stairs and lift with corridor off which are five further offices and a WC. The landing also leads to the main meeting hall with kitchen and second staircase.
In general, the offices have carpet or timber flooring, emulsion painted or wallpapered walls and ceilings with fluorescent or LED lighting, wall mounted electric and telephone points. There are also wall mounted radiators served by gas fired central heating boilers. The meeting hall has timber flooring with exposed timber trusses and full height ceiling with feature lighting. The kitchen has fitted united including a stainless-steel single drainer sink unit.
EPCs
Old Town Hall – C73 (valid until 31 March 2029)
Offices 7-8 – G163 (expired 5 January 2019)
Office 9 – D93 (expired 22 June 2021)
Underletting Conditions
Meeting Hall - The purchaser will need to make the first floor Meeting Hall available for a limited number of public bookings per annum. The minimum number of bookings will be 3 evenings per week and each Saturday morning.
Ground floor stores - The ground floor stores will be subject to tenancy agreements. Further information will be made available to interested bidders by the end of May.
All income generated from under-lettings will be retained by the purchaser.
Further information is available from the agents upon request.
The Marketing Process
Our client, Stroud District Council (SDC) who owns this freehold property has instructed ASH Chartered Surveyors to undertake the following marketing of the long leasehold interest:
Stage 1 - Initial Marketing to Community Groups
Prior to marketing the long leasehold opportunity on the Open Market, our client sought 'Expressions of Interest' (EOI) from community groups.
The 6-week period between 8th November and 20th December 2023 was an opportunity for community groups to record their interest by submitting an 'Expression of Interest' proforma.
Stage 2 - Marketing to the Open Market
At the end of the above 6-week 'Stage 1' period (and also allowing for the following Christmas 2023 break) and following receipt of the EOI’s, the long leasehold opportunity has now been placed on the Open Market and will be marketed for a period of 6 months with the aim of inviting bids from both community groups and commercial organisations.
Stage 3. Timescale for bidding
Interested parties are requested to submit their financial offer (quantitative part of bid) and set out their proposals with regard to refurbishing the property, improving its energy efficiency as well as its social, environmental and economic factors (qualitative part of bid). This latter part will capture the future community benefit and energy efficiency of the building. Both quantitative and qualitative parts will be included in the assessment of offers and will be scored in accordance with Stage 4 below.
The marketing period will be kept open for 6 months and bids will need to be sent to ASH Chartered Surveyors by 5pm 13 September 2024 using the proforma provided. For community groups a business case will also need to be completed using the form provided.
Stage 4 - Evaluation and Selection
All offers that are received will be evaluated and assessed based on the following scoring method: 40% towards purchase price (i.e. quantitative) and 60% towards qualitative factors. Once the scoring is complete a selection will be made, and the preferred bidder will be notified.
The evaluation criteria and weighting for each element is set out in the 'Instruction to Bidders'.
Address :
Old Town Hall
The Shambles
Stroud
Stroud Valleys
GL5 1AP
Stroud is a busy Cotswold market town with a population of approximately 32,670 and the district, 121,100 (Census 2021). The town lies on the A46 Cheltenham to Bath Road approximately 10 miles south of Gloucester, 12 miles west of Cirencester and 30 miles north of Bristol. Road communications to the national motorway network are provided at Junction 13 of the M5 approximately 4 miles to the west of the town, and to the M4 via either the A46 or via Cirencester and the A419 road to Swindon.
The mainline railway station is located within ¼ mile southwest from the town centre with journeys to London Paddington taking approximately 1½ hours.
The property is situated fronting the eastern side of The Shambles, which is a street located in the centre of Stroud town centre, just off the pedestrianised High Street. Two major retailers, Greggs and Costa are located on either corner of The Shambles at its intersection with the High Street. Other nearby retail occupiers include Boots, Vodafone, Savers, Sue Ryder, Johnsons Drycleaners and Halifax Building Society, together with many small independent local retailers. The Subscription Rooms, a well-known public entertainment venue is situated within a ¼ mile south on George Street. At the far end of The Shambles is St Laurence Church. At the rear of the property is the Church Street car park ‘pay & display’.
Inspection of the Valuation Office website has confirmed that the entries appearing in the 2023 Valuation List are:
| |
Description |
Rateable Value |
| General Meeting Room, 1st Floor |
Offices and Premises |
£3,800 |
| Suite 2-6 |
Offices and Premises |
£8,600 |
| Suite 7-8 |
Offices and Premises |
£7,900 |
| Suite 9 |
Offices and Premises |
£1,400 |
Prospective occupiers are advised to check with the local authority to establish any transitional relief that may be applicable.
Approximate net internal areas
|
Ground Floor
|
|
|
|
Office 7
|
15.20 sq m
|
(164 sq ft)
|
|
Office 8
|
42.95 sq m
|
(462 sq ft)
|
|
Reception Office
|
11.81 sq m
|
(127 sq ft)
|
|
Boiler Room
|
5.21 sq m
|
(56 sq ft)
|
|
Store 1
|
30.94 sq m
|
(333 sq ft)
|
|
Store 2
|
8.45 sq m
|
(91 sq ft)
|
|
Store 3
|
14.31 sq m
|
(154 sq ft)
|
|
Store 4
|
28.15 sq m
|
(303 sq ft)
|
|
Sub Total
|
157.02 sq m
|
(1,690 sq ft)
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Floor
|
|
|
|
Office 1
|
13.32 sq m
|
(143 sq ft)
|
|
Office 2
|
12.42 sq m
|
(134 sq ft)
|
|
Office 3
|
18.72 sq m
|
(202 sq ft)
|
|
Office 4
|
15.24 sq m
|
(164 sq ft)
|
|
Office 5
|
12.95 sq m
|
(139 sq ft)
|
|
Meeting Hall
|
91.81 sq m
|
(988 sq ft)
|
|
Kitchen
|
8.05 sq m
|
(87 sq ft)
|
|
Sub Total
|
172.51 sq m
|
(1,857 sq ft)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Net Internal Floor Area
|
329.53 sq m
|
(3,547 sq ft)
|
The property has been used as offices, for community use/public hire and storage uses which fall within Classes E, F2 and B8 of the Use Classes Order 1987. It may have potential for alternative uses, subject to the necessary consents being obtained.
Terms
Stroud District Council will retain the freehold and the property is available long leasehold by way of a new 99-year full repairing and insuring lease subject to an annual rent of £1, outside protection of Part II of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 . See Underletting Conditions.
VAT
VAT is applicable on the property.
Legal Costs
Each party to bear their own legal costs incurred in the transaction.
ASH Chartered Surveyors for themselves and for the vendors or lessors of this property for whom they act, give notice that:
- these particulars are a general outline only, for the guidance of prospective purchasers or tenants, and do not constitute the whole or any part of an offer or contract;
- ASH Chartered Surveyors cannot guarantee the accuracy of any description, dimensions, references to condition, necessary permissions for use and occupation and other details contained herein and prospective purchasers or tenants must not rely on them as statements of fact or representations and must satisfy themselves as to their accuracy;
- no employee of ASH Chartered Surveyors has any authority to make or give any representation or warranty or enter into any contract whatever in relation to the property;
- rents quoted in these particulars may be subject to VAT in addition; (v) ASH Chartered Surveyors will not be liable, in negligence or otherwise, for any loss arising from the use of these particulars; and
- the reference to any plant, machinery, equipment, services, fixtures or fittings at the property shall not constitute a representation (unless otherwise stated) as to its state or condition or that it is capable of fulfilling its intended function. Prospective purchasers/tenants should satisfy themselves as to the fitness of such items for their requirements.
Code of Practice for Commercial Leases in England and Wales
You should be aware that the Code of practice on commercial leases in England and Wales strongly recommends you seek professional advice from a qualified surveyor, solicitor or licenced conveyancer before agreeing or signing a business tenancy agreement. The Code is available through professional institutions and trade associations.
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