More than £11.6m of investment in the city’s historic Council House is being proposed as part of a wider £19m programme to build back Nottingham, tackle priority repairs and protect Nottingham City Council’s operational buildings.
Roofing works, stonemasonry repairs and both internal and external security related works are all a part of the proposed investment at the landmark building, which has been at the heart of civic life in Nottingham since it officially opened in 1929.
With the Council House approaching its centenary, the proposed works would help safeguard the building for future generations, ensuring it can continue to play an important role in the city’s civic life.
The Council House investment would complement plans to transform the surrounding Old Market Square, creating a greener and more welcoming space in the heart of Nottingham. The proposed £3.5m regeneration would introduce more greenery, trees, planting and a new water feature to the city’s flagship public space.
Together, the proposed improvements to the Council House and Old Market Square reflect the wider ambition of the Nottingham Vision programme to create a greener, more welcoming city that residents can be proud of.
The Council House investment would form part of a proposed three-year programme covering priority repairs across the Council’s operational estate. Alongside the Council House, the programme includes roof works at Loxley House, as well as proposed investment at St Ann’s Valley Centre, Byron House and the Royal Concert Hall.
The programme would prioritise work according to risk and urgency. Taking a planned approach to repairs would also help prevent further deterioration, avoid higher costs in the future and reduce the risk of disruption to Council services.
Councillor Jay Hayes, Executive Member for Housing and Planning, said: “The Council House is one of Nottingham’s most recognisable landmarks and has been an important part of our city’s civic life for almost a century. This proposed investment would help protect the building for future generations, ensuring it remains a place Nottingham people can be proud of.
“This sits alongside our plans to regenerate Old Market Square, creating a greener, more welcoming space around the Council House. Both reflect our ambition to build back Nottingham and create a city centre that people want to spend time in and feel proud of.
“The proposed £19m programme would also allow us to tackle essential repairs across our wider estate, prioritising the most pressing work and taking a planned approach to looking after the buildings that support our services.
“We know there is more work to do, but investing in these buildings now would help protect them for the future and prevent problems becoming more serious and expensive to address.”
The proposed programme will be considered by the Council’s Executive Board on 20 October.
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