A Warwick councillor has called for progress over a "waste of money" empty office block which remains empty.

The offices at Warwickshire County Council's (WCC) Barrack Street block are no longer being used, with the mothballed site reportedly costing the local authority £265,000.

Cllr John Holland has been pressing the issue for months at the council, saying a solution needs to be found for the vacant building and the car park below.

Speaking at last week's full council meeting he asked for a commitment from the new administration.

"We have actually a plan to put forward to the county council," he said. 

"We had a consultation involving the county council, Warwick District Council and Warwick Town Council about the future of property in Warwick town centre owned by the councils. The consultation included the Warwick Chamber of Trade. 

"We came up with 20 projects."

He continued: "The agreed option for the Barrack Street office block was demolition and rebuilding but the same volume by occupying more of the site. 

advertisement

"I think where we are now is something like that is the only option."

Cllr Holland asked for a stakeholder group to be formed to help consider the future of the Barrack Street offices to "stop the council tax payer losing unnecessary money on an empty building, when we know the only option is to rebuild it"

In response, portfolio holder for finance and property, Cllr Stephen Shaw said he had asked council officers to prepare a report on the building for consideration. He also said the consultations referenced by Cllr Holland were out of date.

"Barrack Street has heavy use of the car park at the moment, especially with council staff and at the weekends with the public," the portfolio holder said.

"The offices have been mothballed with a significant saving in costs."

He continued: "Officers have been working through a wide range of options for this site, but as yet none have been viable."