A global scramble to buy historic Fulham Town Hall and regenerate the surrounding area is to be concluded following a public exhibition next month.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council has received bids from around the world for the Grade II Listed building and has whittled down interest to a final shortlist of what it described as three 'unique' offers.

It wants residents to help make a final decision and will hold a public exhibition of the bids on Tuesday, December 13. Visitors will be asked to fill out a questionnaire about their preferred choice.

Together with a commercial property consultancy, the authority has been scrutinising all the proposals and is confident the historical character of the building and its public heritage will be respected. All three bids will allow parts of the landmark to be available for public use in the future.

Councillor Nick Botterill, cabinet member for environment, said: “The proposals for Fulham Town Hall by each party offer varied and innovative ways to regenerate the property while acting as a catalyst for improvements in the wider area.

“Taxpayers have told us to look at innovative ways to bring the building back into use while preserving its heritage in a way that benefits Fulham as a whole. All three bids achieve that objective and the proceeds from the sale would be spent on key services such as protecting our most vulnerable residents, keeping the streets clean and buying books for our libraries.

“I look forward to a solution that breathes fresh life into Fulham, improves the council's finances, creates numerous jobs and launches a new era of prosperity for this famous building.”

Until now, Fulham Town Hall has been home to parking attendants, housing officers, cemeteries staff and registrars. All council officers currently working in the building will be relocated elsewhere.

It is being sold as part of the authority's debt purge, with the council saying it would cost taxpayers £5m to maintain in its current condition.