Council unveils plan for new HQ

PLANS to relocate Warwick District Council’s headquarters have been unveiled.

The council house is currently located at Riverside House on the banks of the River Avon in Leamington Spa.

But proposals have been drawn up to move to new £8.6million offices further into Leamington town centre and the current site of Covent Garden car park.

The idea will be discussed by the council’s Executive committee later this month.

Council chiefs say the car park is suffering from major structural problems that would require a significant investment of £3million to resolve.

The council’s plans would see the demolition of the car park and the redevelopment of the whole site, to include the council’s new offices, a new 650-space multi-storey car park and new housing.

The planned new multi-storey car park would also include sufficient car parking space to enable Chandos Street car park to be closed redevelopment at a future date.

Riverside House itself costs the council £580,000 a year to run and the outstanding repairs bill is estimated to be £1million over the next five years.

Senior councillors are to be asked to agree the proposals at a meeting on Wednesday, 20th April, and will then be subject to final approval next year if planning permission is granted.

If the proposals are then given the go-ahead, building works are likely to start in the autumn of 2017, with staff moving into the new building in late 2018.

Cllr Andrew Mobbs, leader of Warwick District Council said: "I’m delighted that Leamington town centre will receive this major investment. The proposed new office will be more efficient than the current building which will significantly reduce the council’s running costs.

"In addition the regeneration work and new car park will ensure that Leamington will continues to thrive as a destination for both business and leisure."