More than £11.6 million is to be spent on repairs and improvements to Nottingham’s historic Council House after councillors approved the investment on Tuesday 20 October.
The funding forms part of a wider £19 million, three-year programme to carry out essential repairs and maintenance across buildings owned and used by Nottingham City Council.
Work at the Council House in Old Market Square will include roof repairs, stonemasonry restoration and improvements to internal and external security.
The Grade II* listed building, which officially opened in 1929, is approaching its 100th anniversary. The council says the investment is intended to protect its condition and ensure it can continue to be used for civic functions.
The Council House repairs will take place alongside separate proposals for a £3.5 million regeneration of Old Market Square.
Those plans include additional trees, planting, greenery and a new water feature, with the aim of improving the appearance and environment of the city centre.
Both projects form part of the council’s wider Nottingham Vision programme.
The £19 million buildings programme will also fund repairs at other council properties, including roofing work at Loxley House and improvements at St Ann’s Valley Centre, Byron House and the Royal Concert Hall.
According to the council, the work will be prioritised according to the condition of individual buildings, the risks involved and the urgency of repairs.
The authority says carrying out maintenance through a planned programme should help prevent further deterioration, reduce the likelihood of more expensive repairs in future and minimise disruption to services operating from the buildings.
Councillor Jay Hayes, Executive Member for Housing and Planning, said: “The Council House is one of Nottingham’s most recognisable landmarks and has been an important part of our city’s civic life for almost a century. This investment is going to help protect the building for future generations, ensuring it remains a place residents can be proud of.
“This sits alongside our plans to regenerate Old Market Square, creating a greener, more welcoming space around the Council House. Both reflect our ambition to build back Nottingham and create a city centre that people want to spend time in and feel proud of.
“The £19m programme will also allow us to tackle essential repairs across our wider estate, prioritising the most pressing work and taking a planned approach to looking after the buildings that support our services.
“We know there is more work to do, but investing in these buildings now will protect them for the future and prevent problems becoming more serious and expensive to address.”
The investment was approved by Nottingham City Council’s Executive Board at its meeting on Tuesday 20 October.
