Cambridgeshire County Council: Bids open for Shire Hall

Shire Hall was once the site of two medieval castles, and was the home of Cambridgeshire County Council from 1933 to 2022, when the council relocated to Alconbury as part of its planned savings programme.

A previous preferred bidder was unable to continue their interest in Shire Hall, so bids are now open for the lease or sale of part of the site.

The property is being marketed by BNP Paribas Real Estate from January 29, 2024.

The site compromises the original Shire Hall, the Octagon, the old Police Station, Castle Lodge and public car parking.

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Offers will be considered by councillors at the Assets and Procurement Committee in June 2024 on whether the offers deliver environmental and social benefits to Cambridgeshire.

Cambridgeshire County Council has also applied to give part of the lawn between the front of Shire Hall and the Mound the legal protection of 'Town Green' status.

It has invested in new interpretation board at the site, as well as increased litter bins and maintenance to improve the visitor experience, although these areas are not included in the disposal.

Councillor Lucy Nethsingha, Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, said:

"Since bids were originally invited for Shire Hall in 2018, we have lived through the international COVID-19 pandemic and we're still feeling the effects of a national cost-of-living crisis.

"Even against these challenging conditions the city of Cambridge has continued to experience unprecedented growth.

"Acquiring this central Cambridge site, which had been a seat of local government since Norman times, remains a really exciting opportunity for investment and development.

"I'm looking forward to selecting a commercial partner that's right for this historic location that's right for this historic location, right for Cambridge residents and right for our county's tax-payers."