SENIOR Monmouthshire councillors will next week decide on plans to sell its former base, which could net their authority and Torfaen council up to £2.28 million each.

The two authorities jointly own the old County Hall site in Croesyceiliog and Monmouthshire’s cabinet will be asked to approve the sell off next Wednesday.

Outline planning permission for 220 homes on the site of the complex - which opened in 1974 to and closed in March 2012 after repairs were estimated at £30 million - was granted by Torfaen council as part of its local development plan in June 2013.

Officers’ preferred bidder for the land would pay the authorities £4.57 million if 20 per cent of the housing on the land is marked as affordable and £3.41 million if that proportion is 30 per cent.

In a report that will be seen by councillors, it is noted these amounts will need slight adjusting to include the cost of a pedestrian crossing that will be required on Turnpike Road.

Torfaen council's cabinet will be asked to pass the plan on February 10.

In 2008 we reported that Monmouthshire and Torfaen councils hoped to get around £4 million each when the site was sold – but land prices have since plummeted.

And the valuation was hit further in 2012 when a nuclear shelter underneath the building had to be filled in so the site could be sold.

The councils both set aside £1 million each for the demolition and landscaping of the County Hall site and have spent £1.7 million between them. Monmouthshire council led on demolishing, clearing and preparing the site while Torfaen's officers have led on marketing and disposal of it.

Initially, it was thought Gwent's Police and Crime Commissioner Ian Johnston would move his base, which lies adjacent to the County Hall site. But last year Mr Johnston said he was reconsidering that decision.

Six bids were received by the councils after they advertised the site for two months between October and December last year.

Of two preferred bids, the councils were offered one where all the money on the houses’ completion would be paid in full and another that would be paid in two instalments, one which would be made at the end of the project and a year afterwards. Because it is less risky to the councils, officers recommend they accept the first offer.

The old County Hall opened to serve the now defunct Gwent County Council, which was replaced by five local authorities in a 1996 restructure.

Torfaen council is based at the Civic Centre in Pontypool while Monmouthshire council has bases in Usk and Magor.