ONLY two years after the idea was abandoned, Malvern Hills District Council is again planning to build itself a new office, at a cost of £6.5 million.

In November 2003, after his Liberal Democrat group won control of the council in the May elections, the then leader Tom Wells said building a new office would not be a good use of public money.

Then the plan was to move to the council's former depot site at Pickersleigh Road at a cost of £4.6 million.

Coun Wells, who had described the proposed building as "an appalling white elephant", said in 2003: "I think we can use the money to good effect in providing improved services, rather than building grandiose new buildings."

Instead the council, which had already spent £50,000 on consultants in the search for a suitable site, decided to spend £60,000 on refurbishing existing buildings.

With the Pickersleigh Road depot now being developed for a GP surgery and affordable housing, the new preferred option is to buy and develop land next to Brunel House, the planning office on Portland Road.

This is costed at £6.589 million, but the council could raise up to £6.345 million by selling off five of its historic buildings - Highlea, Rockliffe, Milbourne Lodge, Whitbourne Lodge and Portland House.

MHDC this week approved the property strategy, prepared by Landmark Management Service, of Ludlow, which offers four options, one to do nothing and three others.

The second option is to redevelop Portland House, which would cost £7.649 million, though again the council could sell its other buildings, this time including Brunel House.

Both these options would need planning permission. If that is not granted, a third option is to develop the treasurers' site, in Church Street.

The strategy was approved 16-0 at Tuesday's meeting, although 11 members, mainly Conservatives, abstained. It was the Conservative /Independent group, which then controlled the council, which first proposed the move to a new building in 2002.

Until the meeting, the strategy had been kept confidential, but councillors agreed it should be made public.