Newport City Council is considering relocating its main administrative functions from the Grade II* listed Civic Centre after an independent assessment identified substantial refurbishment costs.
The council estimates that bringing occupied parts of the building up to an acceptable standard could cost approximately £102 million.
Alternative accommodation options have been estimated at between £26 million and £81 million.
The Civic Centre has approximately 24,000 square metres of floor space but average daily occupancy of only 270 people.
Cabinet will consider the proposals on Wednesday 14 October.
Importantly, councillors are not yet being asked to approve relocation, select a new headquarters or dispose of the existing building. The immediate decision concerns further investigation.
Why it matters: The proposals raise questions about the management of public assets, the financial sustainability of local government and the protection of historic civic buildings.
The council must balance potentially substantial savings against the costs of relocation and the preservation of the building’s architectural and cultural significance.
