Council office moves releases Avalon House for letting
By early in the New Year Winchester City Council will transfer more staff onto the Colebrook Street/Guildhall site in a move that will improve customer service and make savings on office accommodation.
The Council has taken over the lease of the West Wing of the Guildhall from the NHS Information Service and will now release prime office space at Avalon House, Chesil Street, for letting.
The customer services centre in Colebrook Street will soon be able to deal with all public enquiries and will become the Council's only public reception area, while the transfer of staff to the main site will lead to long term savings and is also an opportunity to trial more flexible ways of working for some staff.
"We are always looking at ways we can improve customer service, give a better back-up to our customer service centre, and make more efficient use of space," said Leader of the Council, Cllr George Beckett, who is also portfolio holder for the local economy.
"We want staff to spend more time working in communities across the district, with fewer in offices in Winchester, and the opportunity to provide residents with easier-to-access services will be of huge benefit.
"Having staff that need an office based on one site reinforces the Guildhall area as a focus for public services" he added. "We also recognise the business need for good quality offices in the city and I hope the release of Avalon House for letting will begin to help."
Avalon House is a 12,337 sq ft modern air conditioned office building built in the late 1980's. There is expected to be strong demand for the building in an office market with few buildings of its size available. The Council's Estates Division is handling the letting and enquiries should be directed to Sue Grant on 01962 848 352.