Proposals for the City Council to move offices set to be discussed

Councillors are being asked to approve the next stage of plans for a potential office move for the City Council.

The Council is exploring a move from its existing premises at the Civic Centre in Paris Street to a number of sites it already owns, including the Guildhall Shopping Centre.

The Civic Centre has been identified as a site for future residential housing, and an office move would free up the site to be marketed for the creation of new homes.

A report detailing the proposals will be presented to the Council’s Executive for consideration next week.

The report highlights that the existing Civic Centre site is too big for the Council, particularly since the introduction of hybrid working. Utilising alternative premises would provide the most cost-effective way to improve working conditions and ensure staff can work in a collaborative way.

A budget of £100,000 is proposed to develop the plans and obtain costings to enable the Council to go out to tender. It would be funded by surplus funds from the Guildhall Shopping Centre, meaning there would be no cost to Council taxpayers.

Outline plans have been developed for the Council to occupy an office block in the Guildhall Shopping Centre, a floor in Bradninch Place next to the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, and space at Oakwood House, at Exton Road.

Under the plans a shop in the Guildhall Shopping Centre would also be repurposed to provide face to face services.

Council Leader Phil Bialyk said: “We have been considering options for a number of years to free up the Civic Centre site for residential housing and move to new premises while maintaining a strong presence in the city centre.

“The Guildhall Shopping Centre would be a great solution. It makes the Council accessible to residents and the site provides great public transport links for staff.

“This move would enable the creation of much-needed new housing at the Civic Centre site and would also further our aim of supporting the city centre.”

Chief Executive Bindu Arjoon said: “We have assessed that because of flexible working and the ability to use our other Council sites, the current Civic Centre site is too big for our needs, and we now have the opportunity to explore a move which will support new and collaborative ways of working.

“Utilising the Council’s existing assets is by far the most cost-effective and sensible solution, and we look forward to developing these innovative and exciting proposals further.”

The Guildhall offices date back to the 1970s when the centre was built. Investment would be made to reduce the carbon footprint by replacing windows and the heating system to support the Council’s commitment to Net Zero.

Members of the Council’s Executive will discuss the report at a meeting on Tuesday 2 September.