The former headquarters of Hertfordshire County Council looks set to be developed into apartments, as officials draw up plans for the site to be sold off to City and Country.

City and Country is one of a number of bidders seeking to purchase the County Hall site in Hertford, as part of an informal tender process.

And next week, councillors will be presented with a recommendation that the company be identified as the preferred bidder – and that all other bids be declined.

As part of the City and Country bid – according to a report prepared for councillors – the 1930s Grade II* listed section of County Hall would be converted into apartments.

And the council chamber, reception, ballroom and committee rooms would be retained as communal areas, flexible working spaces and areas available for community use.

The more modern office buildings at the rear would be retained and converted, under the proposal.

And the multi-storey car park would be demolished and replaced by new-build apartments.

Meanwhile, councillors will also be asked to identify the same company as the preferred bidder for Leahoe House and Gardens, which had previously been marketed separately.

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The adjoining council-owned site was formerly used as offices and accommodation for county council staff.

And as part of the City and Country scheme, it would be part of the proposed wider residential development.

All of the proposals for residential redevelopment across the sites would be subject to planning permission from East Herts Council and to consultation with the local community.

Hertford Town Council has also made an offer to acquire the cricket pitch and woodland on the site, which has been designated an "asset of community value" by the district council.

But the report recommends that the offer be declined, "due to the negative impact on the sale of the wider County Hall site".

Nevertheless, the report does say that the sale of this part of the site would include protections against built development and the continued use for recreation and nature.

In addition, it reports that the company is open to discussions with the nearby Richard Hale School on how these areas – and potentially part of the wider County Hall site – could be used by the school for educational purposes.

According to the report, City and Country has a "track record in the successful redevelopment of heritage properties, including listed buildings", with past projects including Balls Park, in Hertford.

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And, it says, commercial analysis shows that the bid represents the "best financial value to the county council".

The published report does not include financial details of the bid. However, it has previously been reported that the site had been valued at around £50m.

County Hall, on Pegs Lane, was previously used as the county council's landmark headquarters.

But staff moved over to the council's Stevenage campus in 2023, and the use of the council chamber ceased last summer (2025).

The site had been marketed for employment uses since 2024, "without significant interest".

And a wider marketing campaign was launched late 2025, with potential purchasers given until January this year to submit a bid.

According to the report, the council continues to incur annual running costs of around £2.3m for the site.

And it says that given the low occupancy, high running costs and required investment, there is "no realistic prospect" of the site being required for operational purposes.

Details of alternative bids for the site, including the strengths and weaknesses, have been circulated to members of the council's resources and performance cabinet panel, but have not been made public.

The officers' report does highlight a previous bid for the Leahoe House and Gardens section of the site.

But it says plans to dispose of the site to the Affordable Housing and Healthcare Group cannot proceed at the agreed terms.

The report on the sale of County Hall, Leahoe House and Gardens will be considered by a meeting of the council's resources and performance cabinet panel on Tuesday (June 2).

But a final decision on whether City and Country is selected as the preferred bidder will be taken by a future meeting of the council's cabinet.