Concerns over proposed sale of council offices

Concerns have been raised over plans to sell off Exeter City Council's headquarters to move into smaller premises.

The Labour-led council's executive voted on Tuesday to push ahead with the plans - prompted by more home working and fewer people in the office.

The Liberal Democrat group leader feared the council could be left with a "white elephant".

Phil Bialyk, leader of the council, said selling the building would raise cash and promised it would not be sold off for student accommodation.

Mr Bialyk said: "Times are changing and there are new methods of working."

He said the council would make money from the sale of the Civic Centre and could save money by using office space in the Guildhall shopping centre, which it owns.

When asked what would happen to the Civic Centre, he said he hoped it would be converted into residential properties.

He added: "What I can assure you is - it will not be student accommodation."

Student numbers in Exeter have grown to become about 20% of the total population, according to the Devon Housing Commission.

Michael Mitchell, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the council, said: "You only have to look at other council sites that we own - are we in five or ten years time still going to have a Civic Centre that is empty and nobody wants to buy?"

The council currently holds several sites that are up for sale including the old Clifton Hill sports centre which has been derelict for years.

Diana Moore, the Green Party group leader, said: "We absolutely need a proper plan for the city centre.

"We're going to have an empty Civic Centre building, we've got an empty Harlequins shopping centre and Mary Arches car park is due to be demolished.

"We don't want the city centre to be hollowed out, we want a really good plan for a vibrant city."

The Conservative group leader, Anne Jobson, said: "It'll be sad to see the Civic Centre go but one has to look at the reality.

"With a lot more hybrid working I can go into that building sometimes and see very few of the office spaces being used."

Ms Jobson said she wanted to be sure any new offices would be fully accessible for all residents of Exeter.

A decision on allocating £100,000 to develop the plans will be discussed by all Exeter City Council members in the coming weeks.

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