A new, low carbon council office located at the planned sustainable village at the site of Top Wighay Farm is due to be considered by Nottinghamshire County Council’s Planning and Rights of Way Committee.
This new building will form part of plans to bring long-term savings for taxpayers by creating more carbon-neutral council buildings, generating income by leasing space within buildings, and co-locating with other public organisations. The flagship building is also planned to provide new, flexible workspace and accommodation for small and medium-sized businesses.
The new Top Wighay office is part of wider plans to build a sustainable village on the site, which already has outline planning permission. The wider plans will bring 805 new homes and a new primary school and are estimated to create more than 1,000 new full-time jobs and boost the economy by more than £873 million over a decade.
This site is on land which has been approved for development in Gedling Borough Council’s local plan. None of this development site is designated as green belt land.
Cabinet member for economic development and asset management, Councillor Keith Girling, said: “We are an ambitious, forward-thinking council and have made a clear pledge to help meet the UK’s carbon-neutral targets by 2030 so it’s vital we invest now to make our buildings more energy-efficient.
“The new building at Top Wighay will house services such as adult and children’s social care, which are currently based in leased office space.
“We will move out of buildings we pay rent for and bring services closer to the residents who need them the most, which will cut down on their travel time and help the environment.
“This forms part of wider plans for more carbon-neutral buildings with the aims of saving money, improving quality for the benefit of communities across the county.
“We have focused on improving our buildings which offer services to some of our most vulnerable residents.
“Top Wighay aims to be as carbon-neutral as possible and will be built to the highest of standards when it comes to sustainable buildings.”
As part of the statutory planning process partners and local residents have had the opportunity to feedback on planning proposals.
Cllr Girling continues: “We have taken all feedback into careful consideration and welcomed the support for our plans from many partners.
“We appreciate that traffic is a concern in the area, which is why footpaths, cycling routes and other forms of sustainable travel such as buses are at the heart of plans.
“Following feedback, access to the existing, regular bus services (The Threes) will be improved thanks to new bus shelters with real-time displays in both directions on the A611. A direct pedestrian/cycle path to the A611 from the new council building will also provide quicker, more convenient access.
“Our plans will also include creating electric vehicle charging points in the staff car park area.”
This site is close to the M1 and Hucknall is well served by tram and rail, with existing links to Nottingham, Derby, Mansfield and Chesterfield.
Completed infrastructure work at the site includes an expanded roundabout on the A611/Annesley Road, a new signal-controlled junction as well as a new, three-metre wide, shared use footway/cycle lane along the northern side of the A611 north of Hucknall and to the west of Linby. This work has already helped to limit the impact of traffic on nearby towns and villages.
Cllr Girling added: “Let’s not forget this investment will provide building contracts for local subcontractors, which in turn benefits the local economy and local jobs.
“Plus, as one of the county’s biggest employers with many staff in public-facing roles or still being office-based from time to time, having workplaces which are fit for purpose and in the right place around the county, forms part of the thinking behind these plans.”
Subject to planning approval work is planned to start on site early next year.
The Top Wighay council building is being delivered though the Arc Partnership, on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council.
