A south west London council has agreed plans to complete a major revamp of its headquarters and upped the scheme's budget to £9.3million.

Richmond Council green-lit outline plans for the second, and final, phase of its project to upgrade and decarbonise Twickenham Civic Centre, where its services are based, on Monday night (28 April).

The council is carrying out the project as it plans to occupy its headquarters for the foreseeable future.

The first phase of the scheme began in June 2022 and saw the council move partner organisations into the centre – including children's services contractor Achieving for Children (AfC), from its base on 42 York Street, Richmond, and Wandsworth Better Service Partnership and other community groups. This phase was completed in April 2023.

The authority then appointed consultants to draw up a redesign of the centre to deliver the second phase of the scheme, which aims to transform it into a 'refurbished, multi-use building' providing council, AfC and other community services. The council's Finance Committee approved the scope of the works on 28 April, along with adding £460,000 to the project's existing budget of £8.8m – bringing it up to around £9.3m.

The approved works include changing the layout of the centre's ground floor and redecorating to provide new and improved workspaces.

This will allow Citizens Advice Richmond to move into the centre, while a hub for voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations will be created.

The project will also free up the third floor of the centre so that it can be rented out to businesses.

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Remaining AfC services currently operating out of 91 Queen's Road will move into the headquarters' York House Annex, allowing the vacated building to be sold off to generate roughly £1m.

Other services provided at York Cottage and the Registrars Block will move into the centre, with alternative uses for these buildings to then be explored.

The centre will also be adapted to cut carbon emissions. Its existing gas boiler will be removed, while LED lighting and other electrical upgrades will be installed.

A report by council officers said: "The project enables the upgrade to the workspace and layout of the building, benefitting staff and improving the customer experience for residents.

"Consolidation of the estate provides income and savings opportunities through the creation of a VCS workspace model and commercial opportunities with external partners."

Lib Dem councillor Robin Brown, Finance and Resources Lead Member, said the 'excellent project' will help the council to serve residents better, support the voluntary sector and provide a more attractive workspace for employees.

He called for it to move forward 'as quickly and as efficiently as possible'.

Councillor Brown added: "We were very clear in our manifesto, again, that we would run the council as efficiently as we could and we're rationalising the estate – that always brings more benefits than you think it's going to.

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"So taking things out of operation is always a good thing because it helps to reduce ongoing maintenance and utility costs et cetera, but we're also looking to generate some income."

The civic centre will remain open to residents and staff during the works, which are expected to begin in September.

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