Contract finally awarded for council's new headquarters

The contract to provide the council's headquarters and a new customer centre at West Offices in Station Rise has now been formally awarded to the developer, York Investors LLP.

The ambitious scheme is expected to cost 43.8m, with an estimated 32m spent on the actual construction.

The council has stressed that the move, which represents the biggest shake-up of York's civic services in the modern era, is vital to ensure adequate facilities.

It is also hoped that the relocation will bring in major savings for the council by dramatically reducing its office accommodation bill.

Having offices scattered throughout the city has sapped finances as half of the authority's premises are leased and rents swallow up 1m a year.

It is hoped that the relocation will bring in savings of at least 5m over the next 30 years.

But the project has been blighted by delays after the original plans to move to the 10-acre Hungate development site near the centre of York had to be halted following objections from English Heritage.

The council was forced to go back to the drawing board and 12 potential schemes were put forward by developers, before the West Offices site was announced as the preferred location in December.

The latest design proposals will be showcased to the public at an event at the Mansion House in St Helen's Square on Friday next week from 9am to 5pm and the following day from 10am to 3pm.

Details are also available on the developer's website at www.westoffices.co.uk or at www.york.gov.uk/council/hq/