The site is not yet for sale, but an independent town planning report said there had been "significant development interest" in the site.

Consultant APP Corporation undertook the land use and development feasibility study and concluded that the investment would give only a limited return because of market conditions and perceived costs of redevelopment.

The council is now preparing a planning proposal to rezone the southern portion of the site from "public administration building" to "enterprise corridor".

The new zoning would allow a range of employment uses including business, office, retail and light industry.

Public consultation will be undertaken and the council will seek expressions of interest for the site in the near future.

Liverpool Council general manager Farooq Portelli said the rest of the site — the northern section, where there used to be a roller rink — would stay zoned "public recreation".

"The whole site will be the subject of an expression of interest," he said.

Mr Portelli says about 35 council staff still work in the north wing on the old site in Hoxton Park Road.

"Ultimately staff members will be relocated to the Moore Street building or the council's depot in Rose Street," he said.

Last year, Liverpool Council set aside $100,000 as a reward for information to police that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who set fire to the council chambers.

The bounty was made available until December 23, 2011.

Mr Portelli said he was not able to make any comment on whether this had helped in finding the person or persons who lit the fire.

"We are yet to be advised of any information that may have been forthcoming," he said. "If the reward of $100,000 is not claimed, it will be returned to finance future budget priorities as determined by the council."