‘Defining moment’ for council on move

Developers behind the new complex in the former 1840s railway station have handed over the keys to the base to council leader James Alexander and chief executive Kersten England. The project has taken 20 months to transform the Grade II* listed building into the new £32m offices. The relocation’s overall cost is expected to cost £44m.

Coun Alexander said: “This move, which has had cross-party support from the start, will pay great dividends for the city and its residents.”

The council’s relocation to West Offices is due to be completed by March, and will reduce the number of its buildings from 17 to just two. It has been paying crippling £1m-a-year rents with its operations scattered across the city. The money used to rent buildings will be ploughed into repaying the cost of the relocation.”