A controversial plan to build a new £15.7 million Nottinghamshire County Council office, which opposition councillors have objected to on 30 different occasions, has been given the go-ahead at a meeting of the planning of the authority's planning and rights of way committee. Ninety minutes of discussion and debate saw the project through by ten votes to three.
The office, located at the planned village at the site of 805 homes, at Top Wighay Farm, close to Hucknall, is expected to be ready for occupation by the end of 2024 but opposition councillors have continually questioned the need for the new building in the wake of the Covid pandemic and a greater use of home working by council workers.
Several councillors asked for the planning decision to be deferred until a clearer picture and review of staff needs could be published. A motion to defer by Councillor Daniel Williamson (Kirkby South) was lost.
