Find out the Future of Fulham Town Hall
Council holds exhibition on sell off plans on December 13
Residents will be able to learn more about plans to sell Fulham Town Hall and regenerate the surrounding area at an exhibition being held at the Town Hall on December 13.
H& F Council says the Grade Two Listed Town Hall has received enquiries from bidders all across the world and it has now whittled down interest to a final shortlist of three.
The exhibition will take place at Fulham Town Hall on Tuesday, December 13, from 1pm to 9pm. Residents will be able to view the plans and complete a questionnaire that will help the council make a fully informed decision.
The council says that together with commercial property consultancy, Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) has been scrutinising all of the bidders' proposals and are confident that historical character of the building and its public heritage will be respected.
It has already said the most likely outcome will be the transformation of the landmark building into a boutique hotel.
Fulham Town Hall, opposite Fulham Broadway Tube Station, is one of several buildings across the borough that H&F Council has decided to sell in order to reduce its historic £133 million debt burden, which is costing taxpayers around £5 million a year in interest payments.
It says the majority of people who responded to a consultation held last year agreed that it would be sensible to sell the building so that more money could be directed towards vital frontline services.
The council claims that if it did not to sell the Town Hall, it would cost the taxpayer well over £5 million to maintain it to present standards.
However, it says it is committed to retaining the heritage and historical identity of the Town Hall and all three bids will allow parts of the building to be available for public use in the future.
Cllr Nick Botterill, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment: “The proposals for Fulham Town Hall by each party offer varied and innovative ways to regenerate the property while acting as a catalyst for improvements in the wider area.
"Taxpayers have told us to look at innovative ways to bring the building back into use while preserving its heritage in a way that benefits Fulham as a whole. All three bids achieve that objective and the proceeds from the sale would be spent on key services such as protecting our most vulnerable residents, keeping the streets clean and buying books for our libraries.
"I look forward to a solution that breathes fresh life into Fulham, improves the council's finances, creates numerous jobs and launches a new era of prosperity for this famous building."
Until now, Fulham Town Hall has been home to parking attendants, housing officers, cemeteries staff and registrars. All council officers currently working in the building will be relocated elsewhere.
The council and LSH will be closely scrutinising the three bids together with comments received at the exhibition and expects to make a final decision in the new year.
December 2, 2011
December 5, 2011
