Cambridgeshire County Council given go ahead for new HQ at Alconbury Weald
Cambridgeshire County Council have been given the green light to build their new civic headquarters at Alconbury Weald.
The council was granted planning permission (today, September 13) to begin work on the new building and aim to break ground in late autumn.
The new two-storey building, which aims to be ‘bright, flexible and productive’, will incorporate 350 desks for staff, along with a number of informal meetings spaces and a public reception. Environmental factors such as charging points for electric cars and solar panelling will help the building remain energy efficient and forward-thinking.
The building will house a number of essential county-wide support services, such as finance, IT and HR, and will be the home for the council’s democratic functions.
Frontline services will operate from buildings and spaces around the county – putting them closer to the communities they serve.
The council's chair of the commercial and investments committee, Cllr Josh Schumann, said: “I want to thank the officers, members and citizens who have helped shape our plans over the last 18 months and got us to where we are today. Their effort and input has been invaluable, and I’m excited by the prospect of now going ahead and creating a space that is efficient, flexible and collaborative – one that works for staff, councillors and the public.”
The deputy chief executive, Chris Malyon, added: “The decision is a significant step forward in our plans to be more present across the county, and I’m pleased that we remain on-track and on budget. It shows our commitment to investing in our services and people – putting us in the best position to support our growing county.”
The proposed cost of the new build, estimated to be in the region of £18m, will be offset by the council moving away from their Shire Hall site – a move that is set to save in the region of £60m over 30 years.
Alongside the planned new build, the council have been investing in their own buildings around the county, including upgrading their IT infrastructure so staff can work in a more agile manner, enabling them to be closer to the communities who need them most.
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