Fate of South Walks House in Dorchester to be discussed today
Dorset Council is recommending it's turned into housing
Staff who previously called South Walks House home could be moved over to Dorchester’s County Hall.
Dorset councillors will discuss the fate of the offices at a Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee meeting today. (25 March)
South Walks House opened in 2014 and cost almost £10m to build, prompting criticism from the community at the time.
A report to councillors today asks them to allow Dorset Council to seek planning permission to repurpose South Walks House for residential use while maintaining the library currently placed there.
Town Councillor Andy Canning was among the critics.
He told Greatest Hits Radio Dorset:
“Huge mistakes were made in the past and I don’t want that glossed over.
“In the end the building’s only been working for about 6 years so all that money has been wasted.
“It was known at the time when this was proposed and being built that it was likely to be a unitary council and it was likely that it would be surplus to requirements so they can’t suddenly pretend it’s a big shock and surprise.”
But, it’s thought closing the building could help the council save £612,000 per year.
Cllr Tony Ferrari, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets and Property, said:
“These proposals offer a much more efficient use of council-owned and leased buildings in Dorchester and will save money. It’s something we have wanted to do since Local Government Reorganisation took place.
"Dorset Council inherited a large portfolio of property and assets from predecessor councils that we knew could be managed more efficiently. If approved, these recommendations would enable the council to significantly reduce the running costs of buildings, as well as generate capital receipts or income by using some buildings differently.”