The BBC’s Local Democracy Reporting Service has reported that Broadgate House is likely to be put up for sale.
Broadgate House, is a Grade II listed building that overlooks Coventry’s main square, Broadgate. Parts of it have been shut since January.
The building is owned by the City Council and used to house council workers from several departments. It also once housed the Bridge Restaurant overlooking Hertford Street and Broadgate.
A senior councillor has said saving on the building’s running costs would help protect key council services in the long run.
The city council said that if plans are given the go-ahead, it “intends to market it later this year”.
The five-storey building was once home to several council and partner teams and a separate escape room game.
But council leaders decided to close the building after a review of council office usage, according to a report for a scrutiny committee meeting held at the end of March. The Council’s Customer Service Centre, fronting onto the Upper Precinct, will remain.
The report stressed the historic importance of the building despite possible redevelopment plans.
It said the move would be “to enable re-positioning of this building as a redevelopment opportunity noting and respecting its listed status.”
‘Protect frontline services’
Staff will be moving out “on a phased basis starting in April”.
Labour cabinet member councillor Jim O’Boyle said: “By saving on the running costs of the building, the council will be able to make savings which will enable us to protect frontline services in the longer term.”
Broadgate House, which was built nearly 80 years ago, was listed by the Government in 2013.
Historic England said the building was a key part of Coventry’s post-war rebuilding plan drawn up by city architect Donald Gibson.
The Coventry Society would be happy to see the inside of Broadgate House redeveloped or revamped. But we believe that the outside, fronting Broadgate, the Precinct and Hertford Street must be retained as an important part of Coventry’s postwar redevelopment. We are particularly keen to see that access to the Martyr’s Mosaic is retained and hopefully improved.