Huge council offices site may be sold to developer

ASPRAWLING council headquarters in North Somerset could be sold for redevelopment. North Somerset Council is considering selling its Castlewood offices in Clevedon, which it bought in 2010 for £12.6 million.

The council has reviewed its assets and now says the site is surplus to requirements.

The office complex – the former home of Clerical Medical – has been the primary site for a number of services since the council moved in more than a decade ago.

But it has largely been closed during the pandemic, is inefficient, has a maintenance backlog and would cost £1.1 million a year to keep open.

Councillors are due to discuss its future and whether to make the site “available for development” at a meeting today.

The move would see staff vacate the premises and the council remodel its other headquarters at the town hall in Weston-super-Mare to create extra space for workers.

Authority leaders say the pandemic has rapidly accelerated the council’s ambitions to use its office space more efficiently and effectively and reduce its costs and carbon footprint.

North Somerset Council executive member for assets and capital delivery Cllr Steve Bridger said: “Like employers across the world, we have transformed how we work with many staff working at least part of their time from home.

“We no longer need two large office buildings and can save significantly on operating costs and reduce our carbon footprint by releasing the Castlewood site for redevelopment.

“The building has a very poor energy rating and retaining it would make it difficult to achieve our carbon net zero goal and it could become very expensive with rising energy costs.”

The Castlewood site accounts for almost 20 per cent of the council’s energy use.

About 40 per cent of the net annual costs of the building are related to energy usage at the site.

“These costs are expected to face significant price inflation in coming years.

Subject to approval by councillors, council officers will develop options for the future of the site. These could include homes, space for business or a mixed-use development.

Cllr Bridger added: “We want this decision to be the right one for the people of Clevedon, North Somerset, the local economy and the environment.

“We are committed to retaining jobs in the area and the council jobs currently located at Castlewood will stay within the North Somerset economy.”