Cash-strapped Hampshire County Council is selling off three sites after a report highlighting the ‘poor state’ of some of its estate.

The council, which is facing the prospect of having to issue a section 114 notice – effectively declaring bankruptcy – by 2026/27, has given the green light to proceed with selling off the plots after several offers were made. For each asset, the council picked what it said was the option that best served its interests.

The sale of an old road maintenance depot off the A27 at St Margaret’s Roundabout in Fareham, land adjacent to the former Hythe Police Station, and Three Minsters House in Winchester are in progress, the council confirmed. It stopped short of giving more details until the process is complete.

Details given though include how the 2.9-acre site in Fareham is mostly surfaced with tarmac from its previous temporary use as a road maintenance depot.

Land next to the former Hythe Police Station, also on sale, is around 1.34 acres, including an adjacent former skate park. This site is promoted as an “opportunity for redevelopment”.

Three Minister House, formerly the base of the council’s architects department, is a four-storey building in Winchester.

The sales form part of a review in 2023 that highlighted the “poor state” of some council properties. At that time, the report indicated that the move would generate about £7.6 million for the administration.

Other buildings, such as the Four Chimneys Family Centre, the property on the Monarch Way site near Romsey Road and Uplands Farmhouse and Barns in Botley, are advertised on the council’s land and property page.

On the page, the Future Skills Centre in Bordon was also advertised as a 25-year leasehold opportunity available from the start of the 2025 academic year.

The council accepted ‘expressions of interest’ forms until November 8, 2024.