Cabinet members at Thanet council have approved plans to sell Foresters’ Hall in Ramsgate.
The property, which is used by charity East Kent Mencap, is Grade II listed and designated an Asset of Community Value.
The authority, which owns the building, will now add it to its asset disposal programme.
The plan is to sell it at market value with first refusal given to the Trustees of East Kent Mencap. However, the offer will be subject to the sale completing within nine months of the date of the Cabinet decision. After that time the council will be free to sale the premises to another organisation at market value.
TDC says the building must be sold as it is falling into disrepair and will need at least £455,145 spent to bring it back to a reasonable condition.
TDC does not have the money to carry out the work.
The building had four tenants but one left at the end of September, two are short term agreements – one for temporary storage – and one, East Kent Mencap, has a secure leasehold interest.
The lack of rental income is one of the prompts for the sell-off of the building.
East Kent Mencap provides services including supporting people with learning difficulties to live within the community and become as independent as possible, helps to develop life skills, provides social groups and activities and helps with carers support.
The group, although affiliated with the national Mencap organisation, is independently financed.
Cabinet members approved the disposal plan at a meeting last night (November 16).