COSTS for the town centre regeneration could swell by a further £300,000 to pay for an operations office for the Glass Works scheme.
The initial design for the redevelopment of the Metropolitan Centre - part of the wider £130m town centre facelift - did not include provision for a specific operations office on the basis that the existing markets team could be accommodated in other council facilities within the town centre.
But due to the increased scope of the Glass Works project, the council has taken the view that a dedicated office is needed within the development to house the staff teams responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Glass Works which includes the markets, market kitchen, retail areas, leisure areas and the public square.
Senior councillors met on Wednesday to discuss the proposals and approved the additional funding for the office - which could be up to £300,000 but an exact cost will not be known until later.
A report seen by councillors at that meeting showed an area on the roof of the Metropolitan Centre which previously housed plant and machinery has been identified as possible location for the operations office.
It is recommended that this space is used to create a reception area, security office and control room, open plan office space including hot desking, meeting rooms, a breakout area and welfare facilities. Access to the office space would be via a lift and stair lobby from Cheapside.
Coun Rob Frost, cabinet support member, told the meeting: “This is additional expenditure in relation to the costs of the operations office.
“The contractors have reached a critical point in the construction programme and require an instruction to start work on the operations office to enable the opening date of the Metropolitan Centre to be achieved.”
He warned that without the operations office and its control room, it will ‘not be possible to safely manage or operate the building’.
Coun Frost added: “The building cannot open without the operations office as this is where the control room is to be located which manages all the essential mechanical and electrical operations within the building including the fire panels and security controls.”
Coun Jim Andrews, deputy leader of the council, who chaired the meeting, said: “Are we happy with this to get is done and get it built, get the town centre sorted?”
Members agreed the funding and a further report will be brought to cabinet once the remaining costs to provide the operations office have been fully assessed.
