Specialist estate agents have started marketing a historic building which was once a top hotel.

Royal York Buildings, overlooking the Old Steine and the Palace Pier in Brighton, was vacated by social services staff who are moving to Bartholomew Square.

Now commercial agents DTZ are marketing the building for Brighton and Hove City Council and arranging viewings for potential purchasers of a long lease.

The lease enables the council to retain an element of control over the building, which is Grade II listed and dates back in part to 1771.

After being run as a hotel by Sir Harry Preston, it was converted into offices when sold to Brighton Council in 1929.

It has an imposing ground- floor lobby, a number of large period rooms, offices, kitchenettes, storage and communal areas.

The central facade of the building dates from 1819.

The building's established planning use is for offices and council planning policies resist the loss of them.

But if offices were shown to be genuinely redundant, other uses such as a hotel and affordable housing would be considered.

The top two floors have low ceilings with potential for providing flats.

Property and finance councillor Simon Burgess said: "The building could provide jobs or homes or a combination of the two."

Councillors hope to find a new occupier by the end of the year.

Monday October 27, 2003