Shirehall revamp cost rises to £24 million

The cost of refurbishing Shropshire Council’s headquarters has risen to £24 million.

Officers said the increase will fund additional requirements from public and private sector groups who are looking to move into Shirehall as part of the revamp.

The project was previously given a price tag of £18.7m.

Clive Wright, chief executive, said introducing other groups to Shirehall will help to make the building “more resilient”.

He continued:  “In the public sector there is a strong desire to find closer ways of working.

“But there is no reason why we can’t let the space out on a commercial basis also.”

Tim Smith, senior officer for the project, explained the additions including improved IT systems and more parking spaces, will make the business hub “more attractive” to the five or six groups they are currently in discussions with.

He continued: “The costs have gone up but the model shows that this is still a good deal.

“It does sound a lot of money but it is all part of the capital cost – we are not just adding levels and the work is really needed.”

The business hub – known as Shropshire Partners – will be the first phase of the refurbishment and will be based at the rear of the building.

The remaining work will see the 1960s building have a facelift with a new reception area being developed under the existing council chamber featuring retail space and revamped office space for employees.

It aims to make the building more efficient with projected utility savings of £250,000 a year while also reducing the authority’s carbon footprint.

Councillors will be asked tomorrow to approve a further £1.15 million that will be used to draw up detailed designs that can be put out to tender.

It is anticipated that planning permission will be sought in March 2019 with work beginning at the start of 2020 taking 18 months to complete.

Mr Wright revealed the timeline had been pushed back by three months as the council wanted to investigated moving its head quarters into the town centre having purchased the three shopping centres earlier this year.

He said that would have been too expensive.

Cllr Steve Charmley, portfolio holder for Corporate and Commercial Support, added: “It was right that we paused this to consider the town centre as a new location but we have decided Shirehall is the place to be.

“We need to be here, the council needs to be here, but we can create more wealth for the town and the county with other offices in the town centre.”

Meanwhile, ambitions by Shropshire Council leader Peter Nutting to revamp the Lord Hill column as part of the refurbishment have been put on hold.