PICTURE GALLERY: Plans to transform council HQ revealed
Council Offices:Market Harborough: Adam and Eve St
AN ARCADE with access to shops, the library and the museum will greet visitors to Harborough District Council’s offices in future if exciting new transformation plans are given the go-ahead.
Plans unveiled this week show proposals for three shop units on the ground floor of the council’s HQ at the former Symington corset factory in Adam and Eve Street.
Click the Multimedia Link on the right to see a gallery showing the plans for the ground, first, second and third floors.
The designs are subject to change as they are still being developed by the council in consultation with its partners.
A new arcade, which would be created at the present entrance to the building, would provide access to two of those retail units as well as the council reception.
Stairs and a lift would take visitors to the first floor, where the library would be housed at the front of the building, with the museum remaining at the rear and a new café in between the two.
A registry office and ceremony room are also included in the plans, allowing marriage ceremonies to be held at the offices for the first time.
The upper floors would house the council chamber and conference rooms as well as open-plan offices for the district council and Leicestershire County Council.
The planning application for the multi-million pound scheme, put together with the help of independent planning advice from Blaby Council, says the redevelopment would be sensitive to the Victorian building, with historical features retained.
Windows would be replaced throughout to improve ventilation.
Cllr Grahame Spendlove-Mason, assets portfolio holder on the council, said: “These are exciting plans for the council, local people and the town centre.
“This refurbishment would retain a strong presence for the council in the town centre while offering new opportunities for other services, such as the museum and the library, and opportunities for retailers.
“We would also be able to revitalise a valuable listed building in the centre of the town.”
The plans have come out of a detailed review of council-owned property, which determined the building is too big for its needs and in a poor state of repair.
The redevelopment is dependent on council approval of a full business case, due to be put before members on October. The planning application must also be passed.
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Weather for Market Harborough
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North
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Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
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