Bristol City Council has submitted plans to refurbish its Grade II-listed City Hall headquarters, aiming to cut costs and improve efficiency. The proposal involves remodelling the interior to accommodate more staff and reduce the council's reliance on multiple buildings.
Under the plan, the majority of council workers would be based at City Hall and the authority's Temple Street site by 2018. Refurbishment work is expected to start in spring 2015, subject to a successful Listed Building application.
Mayor George Ferguson described the current interior as dated and unsuitable for modern working practices. He stated that the refurbishment would allow more staff to work efficiently, reduce the need for several other buildings, and improve the council's carbon footprint.
The ground and first floors will remain unchanged to preserve the building's heritage, while upper floors will be remodelled with open floor plans and flexible work areas. The exterior will undergo minor remedial works but stay largely unaltered.
The council purchased its 100 Temple Street premises near Bristol Temple Meads railway station for £18 million in March last year.
