GUILDHALL COMPLEX
Kingston Council is exploring opportunities to safeguard the future of the historic Guildhall, whilst increasing public access, updating civic facilities and improving spaces for service delivery.
The council is committed to retaining the Guildhall and is working harder than ever to find even more cost effective ways of providing the best possible services to residents. Ensuring council assets are used in the most effective way is a key part of its commitment to making the best use of resources for the benefit of communities.
As part of this work, the council is looking at refurbishing the Guildhall building to celebrate its historical context and continue its purpose as the civic heart of Kingston, whilst providing a cost effective way to accommodate the Council’s services and staff in a more sustainable and accessible building.
In the coming months we will be looking to procure a design team that can help us to create the proposals that fit our vision and our budget. To ensure they have accurate information on the current condition of the Guildhall, we will be applying for Listed Building Consent so that we can undertake surveys and investigations around the building, and understand the fabric of the building better.
We aren’t making any changes to the building, and it is separate to any planning or listed building application that would need to be submitted for any future proposals. Because the Main Guildhall is a Listed Building, we need to be granted Listed Building Consent from the planning authority before we undertake the exploratory works.
The application for Listed Building Consent is now live, and that you can view it on the Council’s planning portal using reference number 24/02814/LBC.
When the council last spoke to people in 2021 about possible future proposals for the Guildhall, 77% of respondents said they wanted continued public access to the space, with 93% thinking it was important to restore the building for future generations.
While potential plans for the future of the main Guildhall are being developed, the council will continue to use the 1970s office building, known as Guildhall 2, as its main office space in the meantime. The other 1970s office building on the site, known as Guildhall 1, will be brought forward for sale.
This project is at a very early stage and local communities, staff and other stakeholders will be asked to share their views on any future proposals as they take shape.