Council HQ recommended for disposal

A report about the future of Worcestershire County Council's HQ has recommended the site for disposal.

County Hall in Worcester has been left vacant since June 2024, with staff working remotely or from other council buildings.

The report recommended, in principle, the building to be disposed, excluding the land required for car parking.

It has recommended a relocation of the Council's Data Centre to Pershore Civic Centre, which it states as being the most "cost effective" option.

The report comes after the cabinet agreed in February that County Hall was surplus to the current needs of the council.

Before the process of closing County Hall can take place, the report sets out a phased approach, including securing alternative provision for the Record Office, resupplying gas and electricity services to the Countryside Centre, and arrangements for the relocation of remaining services still being run from County Hall.

Councillor Robert Wharton said: "County Hall has served the council and the county's residents for many years but it is right that we now consider how best to use this site in a way that reflects our current and future needs.

"This report provides a clear and considered approach to relocating remaining services, decommissioning the site responsibly, and exploring a range of viable options for redevelopment."

Worcestershire County Council's Cabinet is set to discuss the matter on 17 July.

A separate report on Worcester Secondary Education Sufficiency, is also to be considered by cabinet with a proposal to use the site to help meet local demand for secondary school places.

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