Newcastle plans to secure £32 million take significant step

Newcastle City Council ambitions to generate income to help fund crucial council services through their Civic Centre refurbishment programme have taken a significant step forward.

Negotiations are now at an advanced stage for a long-term lease with HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), which could see the civil and family courts and tribunal hearings move into the Civic Centre.

The programme, which has a target of £32 million income over the next 25 years, is transforming the Civic Centre into a modern working environment, preserving the building whilst also creating attractive and efficient space to generate income.

HMCTS is dedicated to reforming and modernising the justice system, and providing fit for purpose courts of the future as part of £1.1 billion court reforms.

A masterplan has been developed for the next phase of the Civic Centre refurbishment programme, and these plans are now live on the council’s planning portal. This is part of a wider public estate strategy by the council and other local and central government partners.

Phase one of the refurbishment is now 50 per cent complete. This has already improved the energy efficiency and significantly reduced the running and maintenance costs of the building.

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) and the Insolvency Service have both moved into the eighth floor of the Civic Centre as new tenants since the refurbishment began. Other tenants include Northumbria Police Occupational Health and the German Consulate, the Coroner’s Court, Births, Deaths and Marriages, and Public Health services.

Nick Forbes, leader of Newcastle City Council, said: “This partnership with our new, long-term tenant not only secures a sustainable future for one of the iconic Grade II Listed buildings in the city, but importantly it helps us generate income that will fund vital front line services for our residents.

“The Civic Centre belongs to Newcastle and to everyone who lives, works and visits the city, and we were committed to protecting this important asset and enhancing such an iconic building, and making it fit for the 21st century.

“In July 2015 we set out ambitious plans for Civic Centre, and back then we knew that we had to take an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to meet the financial pressures we faced by investing to save for the future.

“Our focus is very much on creating a civic quarter in the city centre, through bringing public sector partners and their services together with the council and pooling our resources. This not only improves the services we all deliver to our residents and businesses, but puts Civic Centre firmly at the heart of that civic quarter.”

Mark Swales, north east delivery director for HMCTS, said: “We’re committed to the continued delivery of justice in Newcastle.

“Subject to necessary agreements, this lease would bring together Civil, Family and Tribunals work in the Civic Centre and help to deliver a Criminal Justice Centre in the city – bringing Magistrates and Crown court work under the same roof in the Combined Court on the Quayside.

“We have a world-leading legal system and are investing £1.1 billion to reform and digitise our court estate to deliver swifter justice.”