THE former headquarters of Ards Borough Council in Newtownards is likely to be sold as part of a major rationalisation of public sector buildings.Ards and North Down Council has announced it wants to merge all its office space into a new headquarters building in the centre of Bangor, housing hundreds of people.The proposed Queen’s Parade complex, being developed along Bangor seafront, is believed to be the preferred option, but the derelict Flagship shopping centre is also being considered.Once the new headquarters has been developed, it is likely the council will dispose of surplus buildings, including the former Ards Council offices at the junction of Church Street and Fredercik Street.The site could be sold to the South Eastern Trust, a social housing developer or for private sector housing.There have been intense behind-closed-doors discussions going on within the council for over a year on the rationalisation of council buildings with the intention of bringing all staff under the one roof.For some time officials have been looking at the council’s estate with a view to bringing all offices under one roof in a purpose built, modern office building in the centre of Bangor.A statement issued by the council this week said the local authority operates from multiple administrative buildings, many of which are ‘inefficient to use, operate, and maintain’. Developing a single headquarters building would bring approximately 420 council employees into a single office which will ‘embrace the efficiencies of hybrid working, requiring around 50% less office space than the current footprint’. “The move aims to promote better collaboration between council services, provide efficiencies, increase footfall to support existing businesses, offer the potential for shared service delivery with other key public sector agencies, and act as a catalyst for economic growth and city centre regeneration,” said the statement.The council has this week gone public on its deliberations by confirming it is ‘embarking on a significant rationalisation of its office estate’ which would bring over council employees under one roof.In this initial phase of the project the future of the current HQ at Belfast Castle and the attached North Down Museum is being considered with a potential hotel the front runner of five possible options for the iconic building.Council chief executive, Susie McCullough, said the rationalisation project is a significant step forward for the council. “By moving to a modern, efficient office space, we are not only improving our operational effectiveness but also supporting local businesses and fostering new opportunities for growth in the area,” she said. “The future of Bangor Castle and North Down Museum is a key part of this vision, and we are committed to finding the best possible outcomes for this historic site which will in turn benefit our ratepayers.” The identification of a preferred working option for the Castle will be reported to the Council in the early part of 2025. Following this, the proposals will be presented to stakeholders to gather feedback before detailed financial delivery and operational models are produced as part of the final Outline Business Case, which is envisaged to be completed mid-2025.
