Britain to sell off most civil service buildings in North

The British government has announced plans to sell off almost all of its civil service buildings in the North and then lease them back from their new owners.

The move is an effort by the British to avoid paying the estimated £200m cost of refurbishing the buildings, many of which need extensive modernisation.

Stormont Castle, Stormont House and Parliament Buildings will not be sold off as part of the move, but Castle Buildings, where the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998, is earmarked for inclusion.