A PROMINENT office block in the city centre has been bought by the council.

Lyndean House in Queen’s Road, Brighton, had been on the market with agent Knight Frank.

It has more than 16,500sqft of office and retail space on the road leading from Brighton Station.

Current tenants at the site include Sainsbury’s, which runs a convenience store on the ground floor, and a communications company 15 Below Ltd.

City council chiefs agreed a £5.6 million deal for the site and hope to make a five per cent yield on rental income each year.

It follows the council’s purchase of Phoenix House in West Street, Brighton, last year.

Councillor Daniel Yates said the building will provide a “stable” income to boost the authority’s coffers.

He said: “Lyndean House provides much sought-after stable income, allowing the council to continue to bolster our strategic investment within the city and in turn, be able to continue to provide key services needed to promote Brighton and Hove as a thriving place to live and work.”

Alasdair Collins, associate at Knight Frank, said: “We are delighted to have acquired this prime retail and office investment on behalf of the council.”