New tenants could be moving into an empty office building currently costing taxpayers more than £500,000.

Braintree Council, which owns Mayland House in Mayland Road, Witham, has been trying to find new tenants since insurance firm Marsh vacated the office last June.

It estimates it could spend up to £546,860 on running costs while it stands empty but has now agreed terms with a potential tenant to lease half a floor for five years from October 1.

Another firm hopes to lease half a floor from April 2012 or sooner and discussions with a third occupier remain “optimistic.”