Capital to pay out £2.85m to save money

The council currently leases social work office Westfield House in Corstorphine from Stourbridge Estates for 225,000 a year.

Home care and family-based care services are provided at the Kirk Loan building, which houses 120 staff.

The council bid 2.85 million for the office, which was accepted in principle.

It would also have to pay stamp duty, as well as legal and property fees, which would take the price up to 3.01m.

However, council officials said that, if a deal is concluded, borrowing costs over eight years would result in 284,000 of savings compared to the amount its lease would cost over the same period.

Dave Anderson, director of the council's city development department, said: "The acquisition will provide financial and non-financial benefits to the council and enable the achievement of strategic asset management plan objectives."