Grade 11 listed Skegness Town Hall on market for offers around £600k

The Grade 11 listed office building and a residential dwelling called the Lodge are being sold by East Lindsey District Council through property consultants Lambert Smith Hampton.

The sale comes following East Lindsey's move from its headquarters in Manby to a new the new £7 million Public Sector Hub in Horncastle.

Close to Skegness seafront, the Town Hall is situated between North Parade to the east and Park Avenue to the west.

Lambert Smith Hampton describes the sale as an exciting investment opportunity due to Skegness being the fourth most popular resort in the UK with a tourism worth of around £699 million.

Offering 20,508 sq ft, the site is freehold and would suit "a variety of alternative uses", according to the consultants.

The town hall was built in 1926 to the design of William Henry Ansell, featuring red brick and stone dressings.

It originally functioned as a convalescent home, being opened at the height of the town's promotion as a health resort with recuperative health qualities.

The home was constructed by the National Deposit Friendly Society as a memorial to members who fell in the First World War, and was opened by Queen Victoria's granddaughter, Princess Marie Louise, accompanied by Neville Chamberlain.

The building takes the form of a large central block with wings at an angle to each side with lower pavilions.

An extension built in the second half of the 20th century adjoins the west side of the west pavilion.

The entire building is linked at ground and upper floors with the exception of the residential building which is detached and an ancillary building used as a garage and store.

It was converted to use as a town hall in 1964 and re-opened by Princess Anne. Retaining all of its imposing architectural features of the period, the rooms within the building have been largely been used as offices for East Lindsey District Council, adapted and modernised to fit purpose.

In the height of its role as a town hall, it was the home of Skegness Town Council until it moved to its new location in Tower Gardens Pavilion and the Skegness, East Coast and Wolds Hospitality Association (SECWHA). More recently Visit Lincs Coast (DBid) have been located there.

Grade 11 listed status was awarded to the office building in August last year.

A spokesperson for East Lindsey District Council said “With the development of a new home for the Council at the Horncastle Hub, Skegness Town Hall is now being offered to the market for sale.

"The Town Hall is now all but empty and is now surplus to the Council’s operational requirements.

"The Council hopes to see the building put into really productive use with the Listing itself protecting its magnificence.”

Anyone who is interested in submitting an offer for this listing should email [email protected] by 12noon on Friday, April 29.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE TOWN HALL USED FOR

Lincolnshire World asked readers what they would like to see the town hall used for:

Lorraine Par said she would like it to be bought by Wetherspoons. "They always do a sympathetic renovation and it would bring people down to that end of the esplanade," she said.

"We need a major attraction like a Madame Tussauds or Ripley's Believe it Or Not - something that will bring tourism from miles around," suggested Lorna Newton. "There's a massive car park opposite - a win for the council. Then they could really build up that end of town."

Stephen Scarborough thought the site could be the answer for a hotel chain that has shown interest in the resort. "Travelodge comes to mind," he said.

Some readers believed it should become a refuge for the vulnerable. "Somewhere is needed for support groups for young adults who are suffering mental health issues - a go to safe place to hang out," said Jade Farrow. "Ask the younger generation what they want."

Sheena Wilson added that it could be used for "homeless army lads and girls".

John Orgine had a word or warning though. "Whoever buys that site must be aware that the police building backs on to the back of the town hall land."