Archived press release

Date Published: 12/11/07

Aylesbury Vale District Council’s cabinet has given the green light for the next stage of the council’s office relocation project. This will see 375 staff from the Friars Square and 66 High Street offices move into new office space in...

Aylesbury Vale District Council’s cabinet has given the green light for the next stage of the council’s office relocation project.

This will see 375 staff from the Friars Square and 66 High Street offices move into new office space in Gatehouse Road.

The move to new purpose-built offices, which is expected to take place at the end of 2009, is designed to improve the council’s ability to serve the people of the district.

By relocating to Gatehouse Road, the council will be releasing land for town centre redevelopment and providing space for commercial purposes.

The new office building will be located next to AVDC’s Gateway offices, which are near the roundabout at the junction of Gatehouse Road and Bicester Road. This will enable the rest of the 2.5 hectare council-owned site to be used effectively for housing and employment development.

The relocation of AVDC offices to this part of town is part of the council’s plan to regenerate Aylesbury and create new employment and housing sites. An application for the redevelopment of 8.5 hectares opposite the offices has already been granted planning permission and paves the way for a scheme that includes business, industrial and warehousing units, a nursing home, a hotel and 370 homes.

The new council offices will provide a reception area, staff and member accommodation, meeting rooms and a new council chamber. There will also be parking on site for committee meetings, such as development control and licensing.

In the long term the project will produce considerable savings as a result of the majority of staff being on one site and in a modern building that will be more cost effective for energy and repairs. The cabinet will be considering design options for the new offices in due course. 

The council’s customer services centre, which is currently located at 66 High Street, will remain in the town centre to ensure members of the public do not have to go out of town to access council services.

Around 60 staff and councillors moved from Exchange Street to Gatehouse Road during the summer as part of the first phase of the office centralisation plans. The move allowed the council to demolish its Exchange Street offices to provide temporary car parking in time for the busy Christmas shopping period.

The temporary car park will eventually make way for the multi-million pound Waterside retail development. A new town centre food store is currently proposed for the site.

Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of the Council, said: “We believe developing centralised offices at Gatehouse Road offers the best way forward for local residents. This will help improve communication within the council and improve our ability to serve the people of Aylesbury Vale. Also, given that tackling climate change is a cornerstone of council strategies, a centralised site affords opportunities for improved energy management. Having staff on one site reduces travelling between offices and the impact of carbon dioxide emissions.”