New HQ – Frequently asked questions

How much is it costing?

Under £10m. The budget was originally £10.5 million but we received very competitive prices for the construction contract.  The winning tender was £6.9m when we had budgeted £7.6m.

How much is it saving the council per year?  How long will it take for the saving to ‘payback’ the cost of building it?

Once occupied, the new HQ is estimated to save us over £500,000 a year in revenue expenditure.  This provides an immediate payback and is money that can be spent on day-to-day services provided by the council. We will also own the new building.

You can read the full detail in a report to our Corporate Resources Scrutiny Committee. Read the full report.

Why has the Council chosen the site at Finepoint?

A broad range of sites was investigated thoroughly to look at the most cost effective solution. This included sites in Kidderminster town centre such as the former magistrates’ court building. Overall the site on the Stourport Road offered the most economic and environmental benefits and was therefore chosen.

Is this a good time to be investing in a new HQ?

Yes, because we need to save money. The authority does not want to continue paying maintenance and upgrading costs for old buildings. We also rent Duke House which is expensive and doesn’t give us a return on our investment. The lease runs out in autumn 2012 so we have to move out.

We have a local construction contractor, Thomas Vale, which has committed to engaging local labour to provide additional jobs, work experience and training opportunities and award local service contracts.

Where is the money coming from?

The building project is capital expenditure and is being funded by capital resources that can be used only for buildings, land or other capital assets such as vehicles. We already have over £7m of the money set aside from past disposals and the remainder is to come from disposal of other assets, including office buildings that will be vacated as a result of the construction of the new HQ.

When is the new HQ due to open?

In the summer of 2012. Construction work started on 6 June 2011 and is due to be completed in 12 months.

How many employees will be working there?

There is room for 200 desks which will be used by approximately 300 staff. Because we have introduced mobile and flexible working, many staff will be sharing desks in future and this requires fewer desks and less space

Will there be parking spaces?

Yes. There will be 147 parking spaces for staff and councillors and a further 27 spaces for visitors.  This is the maximum we are allowed due to planning regulations.  By the time we move to the new building many more people will be working from home and therefore it has been calculated that there will be enough spaces for those working in or visiting the offices.

Is there public transport nearby?

Yes. Our new building is on the main bus route between Stourport and Kidderminster and there is a regular bus service. As part of our project we are working on a ‘green travel plan’.  This includes talking to the bus operators to ensure that there is sufficient coverage.

I’ve heard you’re aiming for BREEAM excellent standard – what does this mean?

BREEAM is the world's foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings.  It sets the standard for best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operation and has become one of the most comprehensive and widely recognised measures of a building's environmental performance.