Ipswich Borough Council could leave its Grafton House headquarters over the next few years as staff spend more time working from home.

And the council could look at converting most of the building into flats - providing homes in the heart of the town's business quarter.

The borough moved to its current home in Russell Road in 2006 and initially occupied all five upper floors of the block with meeting rooms, reception and shops and a cafe on the ground floor.

Now it only occupies three floors - and only 52% of its desks are used at any one time as more staff work flexibly, splitting their time between the office and working remotely.

Two of its floors are available to rent to other businesses, but only half a floor is occupied because the demand for office space in Ipswich has never recovered after the shock to the economy caused by the Covid pandemic.

The building will need a considerable upgrade if it is to remain a viable office block in the years ahead and next week's meeting of the borough executive will consider options for the future.

Members are being recommended to look for smaller accommodation nearer Ipswich town centre in a bid to boost the number of people in that area.

Council leader Neil MacDonald said: "There has been a big change over the last few years and we don't need as much space as we have in Grafton House.

"This is the start of a process and we want to look at this again in the summer. 

"Converting the building into homes - possibly social housing or another tenure - is an option we will consider."

Opposition leader Ian Fisher felt the council was moving too fast on plans to dispose of the building: "We don't want end up with our staff being scattered in different locations around the town. They work better when they are altogether as a team."