HEREFORDSHIRE Council has chosen its preferred bidder for the authority's former HQ.

Navendra Nauth's £1.75m bid for the Brockington offices on Hafod Road in Hereford has been selected ahead of five other offers.

The council's chief financial officer Peter Robinson has been asked to approve the unconditional sale.

Mr Nauth 's bid was the highest of six received by the council, although the local authority said there are other reasons it wants to sell to him.

"Mr Nauth’s bid was not only the highest offer but it is also not conditional upon planning consent, therefore guaranteeing a net receipt," said the council.

It is currently unclear what the buildings' new use will be.

The other five bids, however, included a £1.66m offer to turn the building into a residential development, although the council said the actual cost would have been more like £1.5m after compulsory planning costs were factored in.

Another residential development bid was also rejected along with an offer to change the building to a boarding school.

Two other offers of less than £1m were also rejected.

Brockington used to be the venue for the council's meetings, as well as housing various offices including the council leader.

Staff were moved out last August to the council’s offices at Plough Lane, Blueschool House or the 'civic hub' based around Hereford Shirehall and Town Hall.

Council meetings have since been held at the Shirehall.

Brockington had been the council’s base since its start in 1998. Previously it was the HQ for the former South Herefordshire District Council.

The council decided to move to cut accommodation costs.