The District Council has agreed to take the next step in the procurement process to appoint a development partner for an innovative programme which will reduce future costs, while boosting community facilities. The decision, taken at a meeting of full council on May 19, appoints a preferred partner with whom the council will now proceed to final negotiations with the intention to conclude a formal contract. The contract will then need final approval by council in the summer, before it can be awarded. The identity of the preferred partner cannot be made public yet for legal reasons, but their proposals to work with the council in relation to six of the council’s sites will seek to make best use of tax payer money and regenerate the surrounding area in the years to come. The sites within the programme are: • Mill Arts & Events Centre, Rayleigh: re-development of the whole of this site to provide new community and civic spaces alongside commercial and/or residential use; • Freight House, Rochford: plans include refurbishment and extension of this heritage asset to give it a new lease of life; creating improved flexible spaces for civic and community use which can also be used for commercial hire; • Civic Suite, Rayleigh: redevelopment of the whole site for commercial and/or residential use; • The current council offices in South Street, Rochford, : redevelopment for residential use. A robust analysis revealed the proposed programme would be more cost-efficient than continuing to operate the existing buildings in their current form due to their age and the need for significant investment to continue to maintain them in future.