Plans to build brand new council offices on vacant land in Leyland next to the civic centre could cost South Ribble £7.3m.
The idea is designed to save cash on running costs and fuel bills with South Ribble and Lancashire County Councils having agreed to work together to create a new office complex on West Paddock.
The new building, which would house more than 700 staff, would replace the Civic Centre on West Paddock and county council offices in south Lancashire. It would be home to 250 South Ribble Council workers as well as 500 county employees.
But at a recent council meeting it was agreed to allocate £7.3m towards the joint costs of development and design of the project.
This is despite the current economic downturn and the authority having £5m frozen in Icelandic banks.
Coun Colin Clark, cabinet member for finance and resources, said: "At this stage, the council has only agreed in principle to continue looking at the proposals.
"The figure included in the report that was discussed at council, is an estimate of the total cost of our share of the development. The detailed breakdown of this estimated figure is still to be confirmed.
"The proposed plans to raise this amount include money being made available from the sale of the current Civic Centre and borrowing funded by efficiencies that having a modern building will provide.
- For more on this story, see this week's Leyland Guardian
