Reading borough council has whittled down its shortlist of properties for its new headquarters.
The council met in June to discuss eight shortlisted properties for its 85,000 sq ft requirements. It has now revealed that detailed financial proposals for four of the sites have been drawn up, and results will be presented at a civic board meeting on 11 October.
Owing to ongoing discussions, the council said it would “not be appropriate to identify the buildings concerned”. However it is believed a site on Bridge Street Plaza has made it onto the shortlist.
Reading council is being forced to move from its civic centre on Dusseldorf Way because staff working in the building are being exposed to health and safety risks.
It had originally proposed to finance and build a new 125,000 sq ft HQ, but scrapped its plans in December 2008 after discovering that the project could cost as much as £100m more than the council’s original £54m estimate.
Speaking about the current shortlist, a council spokeswoman said: “It is essential that the council obtain the best value for money solution for the ratepayers of Reading, as well as providing a building which is suitable for our valued workforce.”
joanna.bourke@estatesgazette.com
