Council collects keys to One Guildhall Square
6 August 2010
Southampton City Council has been handed the keys for One Guildhall Square – a new business centre in the city.
The handover is part of a major public sector accommodation move, which will save the public purse around £3.5 million over the next 40 years.
Atlantic Property Developments PLC has now finished work on One Guildhall Square - six storey glass-faced building on the site of the former C&A store on Northern Above Bar - with hundreds of council staff currently moving in.
The council agreed to purchase the property - which sits at the heart of the city’s emerging Cultural Quarter - from Atlantic Property Developments PLC in April.
The council will now occupy 2½ floors of the building as owner, with Capita renting the other 3½ floors.
Councillor Jeremy Moulton, Cabinet Member for Resources and Workforce Planning, said: “One Guildhall Square is not only a great asset to the new Cultural Quarter, it’s great value for money.
“Purchasing the building is part the council’s long term accommodation strategy which will see city centre council staff working from only three general purpose office buildings saving £700,000 per year from 2014/15
Southampton City Council staff will, once all the moves have been completed, only have a base at the Civic Centre, Marland House and One Guildhall Square. The council will own all three properties, giving it complete control over its city centre office spaces.
Frobisher House will be vacated by the end of September, with Southbrook Rise vacated in 2012 and Castle Way in 2014.
Councillor Royston Smith, Leader of the council said: “I am very proud that the first project in the Cultural Quarter is now complete.
“Staff, and residents will benefit hugely from this excellent new facility. With Guildhall Square completing within the next few months and the continued investment attracted to the Cultural Quarter, the future of Southampton developments is looking very bright.”
The ground floor of One Guildhall Square will house Gateway, the council’s customer services centre set to open at the end of the month.
Image shows (from left to right): Chief Executive of Southampton City Council (SCC) Brad Roynon, MD from Atlantic Property Developments Plc Peter James, SCC Cabinet Member for Resources and Workforce Planning Councillor Jeremy Moulton, and Leader of Southampton City Council, Councillor Royston Smith.
Image copyright: Southampton City Council
For further information:
Contact: Communications Unit, Southampton City Council, Civic Centre Southampton, SO14 7LY
Telephone: 023 8083 2000
Email:communications@southampton.gov.uk
