BROMSGROVE District Council has shelled out more than £235,000 to keep its former home in Burcot Lane, despite it lying empty for the last two years.

The council, which moved to Parkside in November 2015, is yet to confirm any plans for the unused land, which is still costing thousands of pounds each year in business rates, maintenance and energy bills.

A Freedom of Information request submitted by the Advertiser uncovered the true cost of retaining the site, with gas, electric and water bills totalling £51,065 since the move to Market Street, plus £14,815 in ‘professional fees’, £158,494 in business rates and £4,452 for the building’s upkeep.

And that’s on top of £250,000 last year alone towards the Parkside suite.

Although the council’s new home is costing around £130,000 less each year to run - with major reductions in energy costs - retention of the old site means expected savings haven't been achieved.

A spokesman for Bromsgrove District Council said: “Initially it was assumed that the site would be sold outright to a developer with a capital receipt being generated.

“In light of the ongoing funding cuts from central government and the potential revenue stream that could be generated from the site for the council, a project group has been established to work through the options available and present these to members.”

The results of an options appraisal, which includes demolishing the building and using the land for housing, is expected to be announced in the next few weeks.

But members of the council’s opposition group say the move would not have happened in the first place if these figures had been forecasted.

Deputy leader of Bromsgrove’s Labour Group Cllr Michael Thompson said: “We were promised that Burcot would be a valuable asset that would make money for the council, and that Parkside would be revenue generating - neither of which has transpired.

“Parkside has proven to be an energy-inefficient, not fit-for-purpose building that is an embarrassment to the council.”