A GRADE II listed council-owned hall in a Chester is set to be sold off to developers.

Cheshire West and Chester Executive has agreed to sell the historic Backford Hall to the Cheshire-based Jones Homes.

But the sale of the historic former council offices will be conditional on the approval of a planning application by the authority’s planning committee.

The company has tendered up to £5.4million, conditional on planning permission and the percentage of affordable housing involved.

The council put the historic Backford Hall on the market as part of its plan to rationalise its inherited property portfolio, localise services and save taxpayers’ cash.

About 200 members of staff from several services were redeployed to district offices to enable the sale of the 147-year-old Grade II listed hall, its Lodge House and 24 acres of grounds and pasture land.

Cheshire County Council bought the 40-room Backford Hall, with its galleried hall, mahogany staircase, twisted chimneys and ornamental ceilings in 1946 for just £10,000.

It had previously doubled as a country club, headquarters of the Salvatorian religious order and Liverpool shipping company office.

Backford Hall was built in 1863 in a mixture of Jacobean and Elizabethan styles for Lt Col Edward Holt Clegg, part of a Gayton landed gentry family that had owned the estate since the 18th Century.

There had been two previous houses on the site, the earliest dating from the 16th Century.

A report before members said the sale of the building would both generate a large capital receipt and also reduce the councils operating costs by around £300,000 a year.

Later resources executive member, Cllr Les Ford, said: “Backford Hall served local government well for many years.

“Sadly it was something of a luxury in the current financial climate when savings are needed to protect frontline services.

“However, the building is listed and its retention will be part of the conditions required for planning permission.”