One of the gateway buildings to Gloucester's historic Docks is up for sale at an asking price just below £1 million after the current business decided to sell up.

Dock Office could remain just that - a place of work for a new company - or it has the potential to become a substantial home, pub, restaurant or boutique hotel, complete with secluded walled garden.

Property experts and agents, Ash Chartered Surveyors, which has offices in Gloucester and Cheltenham, is marketing the Dock Office on behalf of the owner and company vacating the Grade II listed 9,420 square foot building.

"On behalf of the Canal & River Trust, we are delighted to bring to the market a unique opportunity to buy a piece of history in Gloucester Docks," said Simon McKeag, of Ash Chartered Surveyors .

"The Dock Office was built in 1831 as the main administrative centre for the docks and the Gloucester & Berkeley (now the Gloucester & Sharpness) Canal.

"It is conveniently located to both the city centre and Gloucester Quays and with the benefit of a generous parking allocation, we believe the property will attract interest for a variety of uses including the existing offices, leisure or some form of residential."

That "generous parking" comes in at some 29 spaces. Asking price is £925,000.

Across the road the former prison site is in the hands of new owners awaiting redevelopment and back on the Docks side the two closest warehouses have just been vacated by the city council and put on the market.

Speculation is that a hotel could be on the cards for one or both buildings.

Just 100 yards up Commercial Road plans are afoot for an ambitious food hub development in still more listed buildings adjacent to the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum and the nearby Peel-owned leisure and retail centre that is the Quays goes from strength to strength.

As for the Canal & River Trust Gloucester office, Punchline has been told all 60-70 staff are safe and well in a new home across the Docks at the National Waterways Museum.

"There won't be any change to operations in the area," said a spokeswoman.

To find out more email Simon McKeag at sjm@ashproperty.co.uk  or telephone 01452 300433.