The West of England Combined Authority (Weca) is being turfed out of its headquarters near Bristol Temple Meads. It has launched an urgent search for a new home after the landlord of its base at 3 Rivergate got tough during discussions to extend the existing lease and told the organisation to leave by the end of the year ahead of major refurbishment work, Weca committee was told.
The announcement sparked a debate over where the combined authority should be based, with South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset councils’ leaders insisting this was a chance to make it less “Bristol-centric” by moving out of the city. Weca, which comprises the three local authorities and is led by West of England metro mayor Dan Norris, has occupied the ground floor of the property since its inception in June 2017.
An “urgent” report to Weca committee, the decision-making body consisting of Mr Norris, the two council leaders and Bristol mayor Marvin Rees, said the lease would expire on December 23. It said: “The combined authority was in discussions on extending its existing lease term but the landlord’s position has recently hardened to an exit being required at the end of this calendar year in order to undertake significant refurbishment of the building without any tenant presence.
