A DECISION to sell former council offices for up to £3.6million will be discussed by Torfaen council’s cabinet this week.

The former Cwmbran County Hall site – which is owned by Monmouthshire and Torfaen councils – has had two proposed sales fall through since 2015.

This week, plans to sell the site will go before Torfaen County Borough Council's cabinet with officers citing the “most likely” offer at £2,240,635 based on a development of 138 homes.

The hall was recently shared by the two councils, until both found new homes in Pontypool and Magor respectively.

Since the buildings closure in 2010, several attempts have been made to sell the site.

The first was aborted in August 2015 when the bidder sought a £1million price reduction partway through the contract.

The second offer, of up to £5.1m was abandoned earlier this year after the bidder missed deadlines to exchange contracts.

After marketing the site in March this year, six offers were received and Torfaen CBC’s cabinet aim to forward the sale of their “preferred bidder”.

This sale sum – based on 30 per cent affordable housing – would be split between both local authorities with Torfaen and Monmouthshire receiving £1,821,040 each.

Another proposed offer for 20 per cent affordable housing could see the site sold for £3,642,080 with a £1,821,040 sum awarded to each council.

A council cabinet report states that the bidder reduced their initial proposal from 160 homes to 138 homes and if, at a later stage, the number of homes is increased, the price will increase correspondingly.

The offer is also subject to planning permission and the purchase price will be paid with the sale is completed.

Although a report recommends Torfaen CBC accept the offer on a subject to contract basis, Monmouthshire County Council must accept the offer before contract negotiations start.

As previously reported, ‘concrete cancer’ was said to have forced the building’s closure, despite it being less than 30-year-old when the problem was diagnosed.

In 2008, the Argus also reported that both councils hoped to get around £4 million each when the site was sold – but land prices plummeted soon after.

The meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 3 at 10.30pm at the Civic Centre in Pontypool and to watch online, visit: torfaen.public-i.tv/core/portal/home