Civic and Office Accommodation

The Council is undertaking a strategic review of its administrative buildings, to drive greater efficiency and to make better use of the Council's estate.

Currently, around 400 Council employees work across more than 10 different buildings, the majority of which are inefficient to use, operate and maintain. It is estimated that the Council's future need for office space is 50% less than the current footprint of the estate - generating significant opportunities for change, to drive efficiencies and to provide economic, social and environmental benefits. The conclusion of the Business Case undertaken by the Council was that a single building, located in the centre of Bangor or Newtownards, would best serve the Borough in the future.

In progressing any rationalisation of buildings, the Council has also committed to prioritising regeneration benefits locally by considering how any buildings it no longer needs can be released for new purposes. As an example, the SEHSCT has expressed interest in the Council's Church Street site in Newtownards to facilitate the expansion of its services at the Ards Hospital. This would transfer up to 150 administrative health staff from outside the Borough into Newtownards town centre, delivering a significant boost to the local economy.

The Council has further committed to ensuring that any new building should be situated in the heart of either Bangor or Newtownards. A suitable, modern office building would promote better collaboration between council services, bring footfall to support existing businesses, offer the potential for shared service delivery with other key public sector agencies and provide a catalyst for new businesses to open up.

In October 2023, Council took the exploratory first step to engage with property owners in Newtownards and Bangor to try to identify potential sites for a new civic/ office hub for the Council.

A total of 37 potential sites were identified, with seven subsequently taken forward for full scoring. Following a detailed assessment two sites in Bangor, the Flagship and Queen's Parade, were identified as the most suitable to progress. With redevelopment both can provide high quality, modern, fit for purpose civic and office facilities.

In March 2024, Council agreed to take forward these two identified sites for further consideration. At the same time Officers will continue to progress businesses cases for our existing individual buildings, prioritising regeneration benefits locally.

This decision also enables work to progress on Newtownards Citizens Hub, including the proposed new cultural hub with Libraries NI.

In June 2024, Council will be advertising a tender opportunity for consultants to undertake feasibility studies and produce outline business cases in relation to potential future uses for Bangor Castle and the current North Down Museum site. A tender opportunity for an Integrated Consultancy Team to work on the design of Newtownards Citizens Hub will also be advertised in June.

Revitalising this extensive estate is a complex ambition, with many interrelated projects. Plans will adapt moving forward to meet the changing needs of the Council/ potential partners, external market conditions and ratepayers/ end users.

Current Position (PDF, 85 KB) (opens new window) Click to download a graphic showing the buildings that are part of the review

Benefits (PDF, 149 KB) (opens new window) Click to download a graphic summarising the key long-term benefits

Frequently asked questions

What is the office rationalisation project aiming to achieve?

This project proposes that, over the coming years, instead of resources being put towards the upkeep of several old and inefficient buildings, Council investigates securing new energy efficient, accessible, and sustainable premise in either Bangor or Newtownards.

The new premise will house office-based employees who currently work across 10 different buildings. The approach would facilitate more collaborative working practices and allow the Council to offer a wide range of its services in one central location. The footprint of any new building would be c50% less than the existing Council estate required to house these employees/functions.

This proposal will also see some existing Council buildings being re purposed, providing further opportunity for economic,social, and environmental benefits.

When will the proposals be implemented?

These are long-term plans with several related projects, that will adapt over time to meet both the changing needs of Council/ potential partners, external market conditions and ratepayers/end users. Timelines for delivery are yet to be determined in detail.

What are the next steps?

In March 2024, Council agreed to take forward two sites in Bangor, the Flagship and Queen's Parade, for further consideration as, following a comprehensive assessment, both can provide high quality, modern, fit for purpose civic and office facilities.

At the same time Officers will continue to progress businesses cases for our existing individual buildings, prioritising regeneration benefits locally. In June 2024, Council will be advertising a tender opportunity for consultants to undertake feasibility studies and produce outline business cases in relation to potential future uses for Bangor Castle and the current North Down Museum site.

Work is also progressing on Newtownards Citizens Hub, including the proposed new cultural hub with Libraries NI. A tender opportunity for an Integrated Design Team to work on the design of Newtownards Citizens Hub will also be advertised in June.

Why, with high inflation/ living costs and increasing need for fiscal prudence, is the Council choosing to progress these proposals at this time?

Among the core principles of the Council's Estate Strategy are cost effectiveness, cost efficiency and value for money.

The Council owns and maintains a sizeable estate on behalf of the residents of Ards and North Down. Many of the administrative buildings are old, inefficient and present accessibility challenges.

Over the last decade, the Council has had to allocate significant resources to reactive maintenance on these buildings (fundamental repairs such as roofing and structural works). This comes at the expense of maintenance and refurbishments that would improve or modernise the facilities. The position is unsustainable.

This proposal will also see some existing Council buildings being re purposed, providing further opportunity for economic, social, and environmental benefits.

This is a long-term project with many interdependencies but steps need to be taken in order to ensure the delivery of benefits moving forward.