Telford & Wrekin Council reveals future offices plan

The last council administration had originally planned to move to a newly built Civic Offices as part of the Southwater regeneration of the town centre.

However, the council’s new administration has abandoned the plan to build new offices and instead is set to approve an alternative that will save more than £1m a year from the revenue budget, which then protect more day to day services.

The council’s next cabinet meeting on July 26 is now being asked to approve a new plan which involves staff working in existing council buildings, Darby House and the new office development in Wellington..

The authority’s accommodation strategy endorses continuing with the sale of the existing Civic Offices site to ASDA.

A new Community Hub building in Southwater will provide the Council’s main customer service point and a new library alongside the planned bars, restaurants and shops.

This building could have additional space to accommodate public sector partners, the voluntary sector, community groups and charities – making it the central focus for Telford and Wrekin as a Co-operative Council.

Councillor Bill McClements, cabinet member for Resources and Service Delivery, said: “A range of options for office accommodation have been reviewed and the financial implications assessed in order to make considerable savings based around the need to continue supporting Telford Town Centre regeneration.

“Our plans will result in savings of more than £1m a year compared to the last administration’s budget.

“We also took into account that it was important for the council to continue to have a presence in and around the town centre and to make better use of buildings already owned by the Council.

“We feel the plan we have developed not only saves money that can be used to protect frontline services but also delivers flexibility in the council’s office accommodation to allow for future changes in accommodation needs.”