Victims’ experience of the justice system across the East Midlands should improve thanks to targeted funding to upgrade court facilities says the Government.
The £14 million project will involve the installation of a new roof covering which will resolve the ongoing issues of water leakage throughout the building which has resulted in the closure of several courtrooms.
Upon completion, the projects will help address long-standing maintenance issues, reduce delays caused by poor infrastructure, and improve working conditions across courts.
The funding is part of £148.5 million being spent this financial year to improve conditions, modernise, and repair the court estate. This will speed up justice by reducing the number of court rooms out of action while improving conditions for all users of the courts.
Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC, said:
“Victims deserve swift justice, and delays are unacceptable. Our investment in Nottingham Crown Court delivers modern, resilient, and accessible facilities, speeding up the delivery of justice and improving conditions for those who use them.
“We are committed to restoring public confidence in the justice system by tackling the backlog, rebuilding our courts, and ensuring swift access to justice.”
While this infrastructure improvement is important is addressing the courts backlog requires broader system reform.
That is why the Lord Chancellor has commissioned an Independent Review of the Criminal Courts, led by Sir Brian Leveson, which is exploring options for longer-term reform to reduce the backlog and restore public confidence in the justice system.
The Government has also increased funding for Crown Courts to sit a record 110,000 days this financial year – 4,000 more than originally set the previous year, ensuring more hearings can take place and helping victims see justice more quickly.
The works at Nottingham are due to be completed by Spring 2026.
