By John Baron
Historic Pudsey Town Hall should be advertised for sale on the open market, a Leeds City Council report has recommended.
Council chiefs aim to sell the building, which dates back to 1879, by informal tender by 31 March 2026 and appoint an agent to complete the sale.
The Town Hall was deemed surplus to requirements in October. The local authority needs to raise money to balance its books and says maintaining the building costs thousands of pounds a year.
A council report released this week stated: “Marketing the property will enable the council to determine the best offer following exposure to the market and establish whether the council’s statutory requirement to achieve best consideration has been achieved. Offers received during the marketing period will be considered and reported back.
“The disposal will alleviate the council of maintenance and running costs as well as realising a capital receipt in the form of a sale.”
Pudsey Town Hall. Photo: Daniel Brabban
If no suitable offer is forthcoming by informal tender, the property will be sold on the open market via auction. Council officers acknowledge this method would offer less control over the type of purchase and the future use.
All three Pudsey councillors – Simon and Dawn Seary (Cons) and Trish Smith (Ref) – are opposed to the Town Hall sale, along with Cllr Andrew Carter (Cons, Calverley & Farsley).
“There have been discussions with a local Community Interest Company (CIC), who have shown interest in taking on the building,” the council report added. “The CIC’s interest remains live, and their offer will be considered alongside other offers received after proper marketing of the property.”
The report says the CIC has two proposals – either a freehold purchase with deferred payment plans, or a long leasehold arrangement with the option to purchase. “Both of these options are deemed to be unsuitable at this time,” the report adds.
The full council report can be read in full here.
The Robin Lane building was the headquarters of Pudsey Municipal Borough from 1899-1974. The council chamber remains preserved for educational purposes.
The property was used as council offices and a one stop centre until 2016, when the service was relocated to Pudsey Library to form Pudsey Community Hub.
- WLD has been following local and national government cuts in West Leeds via its Cutswatch series here.
- Follow WLD‘s ongoing coverage of Pudsey Town Hall here.
Update: This article was amended to clarify the Town Hall was the headquarters of Pudsey Municipal Borough from 1899-1974, not Pudsey Urban District Council from 1912 as orignally stated.