It was announced this week that Littlehampton Town Council had bought an old office block for an undisclosed six-figure sum, ending weeks of tense negotiations. Arun District Council was planning to put the former housing offices, in Church Street, up for sale on the open market, after rejecting opening bids from the town council, which wanted the site to provide an extension to its Manor House offices next door. Last month, the Gazette reported the town council had increased its offer by £20,000 in a bid to secure the block, which it aims to convert into a conference and wedding venue. Announcing the “revised offer” had been accepted this week, Dudley Wensley, Arun’s cabinet member for finance and central services, said: “I’m very pleased we have been able to work with the town council and secure a reasonable offer for our Church Street offices and adjacent land. “The successful sale of the building not only benefits both authorities, but also residents of Littlehampton, given the town council’s ambitious and exciting plans for the site.” Littlehampton’s mayor, Alan Gammon, also welcomed the agreement, and said he was “delighted” the offer had been accepted. “We look forward to transforming the site in due course to provide a great community asset for the town,” he added. The building has been empty since Arun relocated the staff based there to the Civic Centre, in Maltravers Road, in December, 2010. A spokeswoman for Arun, which said it was unable to confirm the final price, said the proceeds would help keep council tax as low as possible. The money would also “contribute to funding the essential elements of Arun’s capital works programme, including funding for disabled facilities grants to families across the district”, she added.