The Board of Deputies has begun a search for a new home after announcing that is to leave the central London premises that have served as its headquarters for the past 17 years.

Its administrative director Martin Frey told deputies that its Bloomsbury building was “unsuitable because it is not designed for modern working, with too many small offices spread across five floors, and poor disabled access.”

Its Grade II-listed status made it “expensive to maintain and improve”.

Consultants are being hired to find a new location in an as yet unspecified area. According to the Board’s last accounts, the freehold property is valued at £1,950,000.

Former vice president Flo Kaufmann, who negotiated the purchase of the building in September 2001 at a price “just shy of £2 million” said she “would expect it to fetch at least £3.5 million on today’s market. Not a bad investment”.

The move will fuel further speculation about possible closer links with the Jewish Leadership Council.

A year-and-a-half ago, the JLC said it had held exploratory talks with the Board about sharing premises. Earlier this year, the two organisations agreed to pursue the possibility of merging.