'Surplus to requirements' This Leeds community centre will be sold at auction
A Leeds community centre will be sold at auction after the council decided it was no longer needed.
Strawberry Lane Community Centre in Armley will be put on the market to raise cash for Leeds City Council.
The site, first built as a school in in 1970s before being used as a college campus, could be redeveloped into housing.
A council report said services were being moved out of the building to another premises nearby.
It said: “The property is surplus to council requirements and it is proposed that the site is disposed by auction.”
A sale would relieve the council of the cost of maintaining the building, which is in a poor state of repair, the report said.
It said: “It is likely that the new owner will redevelop the property, which could result in new employment and residential opportunities which are known to bring health and well-being benefits.
“The sale of this property would alleviate the council of repair and maintenance costs as well as realising a capital receipt.”
An auction sale was deemed to be the quickest way of disposing of the building.
The report said: “There is a risk that the property may not sell.
“However, this is unlikely given recent auction results which demonstrate strong interest in similar properties of this type and value.”