BRAINTREE Council is set to make a dramatic U-turn over plans to move premises.

Officers have recommended it stay at Causeway House in Braintree - throwing out proposals to move to Witham or a new office in Braintree.

The shock news was announced at a members-only briefing on Monday, where councillors were also told the predicted cost of refurbishing Causeway House had fallen from £6.5million to £3.8million.

The council has considered moving premises for two years on the grounds that the building is too large and the refurbishment cost too high.

Leader Graham Butland said nothing will be decided until the Cabinet and council meet next month.

"I have asked for detailed options and business cases as to what may be done and as I said in your paper on January 6, if the figures point to us moving, we will move. If the figures point to us not moving, we will not move," said Mr Butland.

Consultants had quoted £1,000 a square metre for refurbishment but he asked for the figures to be re-worked.

"I said we don't need things like air conditioning, we don't need a palace. We just want reasonable accommodation.

"The figure they have come back with is £3.8million," he said.

If the council remains at Causeway House, it will still need to share the building with other tenants.

See full story in this week's Braintree and Witham Times.