HARWICH’S HM Revenue and Customs office could be turned into homes after being put up for sale for £750,000.

But concerns have been raised about losing the building in Main Road, Dovercourt, while there are still uncertainties about the impact Brexit will have on ports.

The customs house, which has 67 staff, is being scrapped in March as part of a major overhaul of the service which will see the eventual see the closure of all HM Revenue and Customs offices in the East of England.

Work will be transferred to one super site in Stratford, east London, with the South-East also being served by a centre in Croydon.

The Eighties detached office building is on the market through Fenn Wright and Savills.

Steven Donnelly, of Fenn Wright, said: “This is an excellent opportunity to purchase a sizeable well-located commercial building.

“The building has significant scope for a variety of alternative uses, including conversion to residential, subject to obtaining the appropriate planning consent and accordingly we anticipate significant interest from investors, developers and owner occupiers.”

The three-storey customs house in Dovercourt opened in October 1982 after two years of work – replacing the former office in Hamilton House, Parkeston.

Harwich Town councillor Garry Calver said the building should be kept until after Brexit.

He said: “It is dreadful the local customs jobs are being lost in the short-term but the intention to sell off the building seems incredibly premature. At a time when no-one seems to know what impact Brexit will have on customs tariffs and the movement of goods, “I would have expected HMRC buildings to be retained as they may well be needed post 2019."

Councillor Simon Ashley has raised concerns about the idea of the site being used for homes.

He said: “If it was going to be developed for commercial, then it would be good to have those jobs.

“But if it is turned into homes - it would just be bringing in more people without the facilities.”