A HISTORIC Brentwood building has moved closer to being turned into a block of flats.

The Old House, in Shenfield Road, almost became a restaurant earlier this year before developers dropped out of the deal.

Now Brentwood Council has approved surveys with a view to it being converted into flats.

There are concerns the council has bitten off more than it can chew financially, with the works estimated to cost more than £1million. Estimated income for the council is measured at just over £60,000 annually through rent.

Tory councillor Roger Hurst said: “The building would be better used if it was sold rather than used as a vanity project. The cost of refurbishment will be an immense loss to this council. This deal is going to lose us money.”

He added: “This will be better used by someone who can use it and invest in it.”

Fellow Conservative councillor Chris Hossack said: “There seems to be an inordinate amount of taxpayers’ money being spent. I find it offensive the amount we want to spend”

However, council leader and Lib Dem Barry Aspinell said: “If we sell up, what have we got left to make money on? This gives us something in our locker for any entrepreneurial ideas.”

Brentwood First councillor Russell Quirk said the cash raised could aid spending on things such as street cleaning and council tax.