Councillor keen for historic HQ to be turned into ‘flats and bars’

Nottinghamshire County Council could be set to leave its historic West Bridgford base after the authority revealed plans to sell part of the building.

The council will review the plans next Wednesday (January 24) amid reports that it could move its operations wholesale to a £16m site at Top Wighay, which has planning permission.

The news will alert developers and property professionals who will be keen to take advantage of the prime site, which sits alongside the River Trent.

Nottinghamshire County Council is keen to move out of the site after it was revealed that it would cost £50m over a decade to bring the 1954 building up to modern standards.

Councillor Keith Girling, part of the ruling Conservative group at the Council told the BBC: “It’s costing us about £5m a year just to keep it going and we’ve done a survey and it’s going to cost us around £50m over the next 10 years.

“We’re open to suggestions but if I had my way, I’d have it as luxury apartments and some lovely bars and restaurants on the ground floor. But we need to make sure the business plan fits.”

The cross-party review of the premises will be voted on next week.