Cambridgeshire county councillors will discuss seven bids for the former library in Mill Road Cambridge this week.
The council’s assets & procurement committee will discuss the bids on Tuesday, October 15 after the building was marketed by Gerald Eve with a guide price of £700,000.
A total of 26 viewings took place before the bids were made, two of which were community bids. Officers have recommended one bidder with a strong community arts focus.
The Grade II-listed, late 19th Century building was put back on the market earlier in the year, after the previous preferred bidder, a charity which had planned to use it as its head offices pulled out.
It has been owned by the county since the 1970s but closed in 1996. It was leased to a Hindu association until 2019 and then temporarily let to the Hill Group until early 2023.
Its Use Class F means the building can only be used as a school, museum, gallery, library, hall, place of worship, training centre or similar non-residential facility. The council is legally required to obtain what is known as ‘best consideration’ for all building sales.
As an Asset of Community Value (ACV) the sale of the building has to follow a process involving community bids which has been managed by Cambridge City Council.
Cllr Ros Hathorn, chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s assets & procurement committee, said: “We are keen to ensure the future of this notable historic building. It’s been several years now since Mill Road library served the community – and nearly 20 years since the last books were issued.”
“We were pleased to see a high level of interest in the building from a variety of bidders and to see more than one bidder with a community focus.
“I’d like to reassure local residents that any decision on the future use of the building will be subject to environmental and social considerations, as well as the financial offer made.
“We look forward to hearing about the bids that have been made, as we look to find an appropriate long-term guardian for this listed building.”
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