New lease of life for Civic Centre?

ANTRIM Civic Centre could be leased to another public sector organisation, it’s been revealed, just 20 years after it was opened and ten years after the supercouncil merger with Newtownabbey.

The news follows speculation about the future of the building on Stiles Way, which is only 20 years old and part of a current ‘review of civic buildings’.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council confirmed the development after rumours swirled that council staff still working at the building had been told that they could be transferring to the Mossley Mill complex in the New Year.

A council spokesperson said: “Officers are in the early stages of discussions with another public sector organisation regarding the potential lease of space in Antrim Civic Centre.

“A report will be presented to the Council in due course for members’ consideration.”

Last year it emerged that no full council meetings were slated for the former council HQ for the 2025 term, while most committees also now meet at Mossley Mill.

A year ago, the Antrim Guardian revealed how making use of both the Civic Centre and Mill for alternate full monthly meetings of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council could require ‘a six-figure spend’. Since COVID, only committee meetings have been held in the Round Tower chamber, with a maximum of 15 reps in attendance.

The hybrid arrangements during the pandemic allowed members to dial in from home - and they still do, but concerns remain about overcrowding, accessibility, fire evacuation risk and the age of the audio equipment at both the Civic Centre and Mossley Mill chambers without massive upgrades.

Insiders said last year that a total figure to upgrade systems and access at both chambers could approach nearly £300,000, which was not factored into 2024/2025 budgets.

Antrim Civic Centre was opened in 2005 to replace nearby Steeple House - which was gutted by a blaze in 2019. There is still little movement on long-awaited plans to regenerate the building and the surrounding historic parkland.

The Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough was created on 1 April 2015, meaning there were essentially two council headquarters, although onlookers have repeatedly pointed out that the Civic Centre is being utilised less and less for functions and events.