New Civic Centre in Livingston

A new Civic Centre is planned to be built in Livingston town centre. West Lothian Council, Lothian & Borders Police, the Scottish Court Service and the Procurator Fiscal service are working in partnership on the proposed £53million project ? that would be the first of its type in the United Kingdom.

The aim is to develop a new sheriff court, procurator fiscal's office, police station and office accommodation for around 600 council staff at Almondvale Valley in Livingston.

The proposed multi-agency development could also house the Children's Reporter, West Lothian's new community health and care partnership and Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade operations and community safety unit.

New community facilities will also be provided to meet the needs of Scotland's fastest-growing area. Flexible, multi-functional areas will be available to groups and individuals for functions, meetings and receptions.

A report outlining proposals to progress the project has now been approved by West Lothian Council?s policy, partnership and resources committee.

The report showed that independent consultants estimate the council will make savings of £8 million over a 25-year period from a new development. The cost of maintenance, repairs and upgrading the council's three main buildings - West Lothian House at Livingston, Lindsay House at Bathgate and County Buildings at Linlithgow - is estimated at £16 million compared with £8 million for a new building.

" This is an exciting, innovative and ambitious partnership development," said Council Leader Graeme Morrice. " The new civic centre is a unique project which will provide a hub for public service provision in West Lothian.

" It is a key element of our record £304 million investment programme, where we will also be spending £87 million on our schools, £81 million on road improvements, £82 million on housing and £13 million on community facilities.

" All the principal partners have now formally reached the decision that they are committed to delivering the civic centre project in view of the many benefits it offers. Now it is a matter of moving forward to plan, procure and deliver a modern, purpose-built civic centre for the people of West Lothian."

Council chief executive Alex Linkston commented: " There are clear advantages to creating a new civic centre for West Lothian. The development of this important project will lay the foundations for joined-up, public sector partnership working.

" The development of this site, which is owned by the council, gives us the opportunity to secure the scale of investment needed to address existing shortcomings, provide improve service delivery and increase financial efficiency."

Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Dickson of Lothian and Borders Police said the proposal presented an outstanding opportunity to improve the joint working of key partners in public services and the justice system in West Lothian.

" This far-sighted scheme will enable us to work with our partners to improve efficiency," he said. " But this way of joining together should not just help us use public money to better effect, it will more importantly allow us to provide a better quality of service to the diverse communities of West Lothian."

A Scottish Court Service spokeswoman commented: " We are pleased to be working in partnership with West Lothian Council and Lothian and Borders Police on this project. The opportunity for joint working and co-location in a civic centre in Livingston is a key part of bringing improved systems and service improvements."

Consultation has already started with interested parties and West Lothian Council?s development control sub-committee granted outline planning permission in June 2005. It is anticipated that a detailed planning application will be submitted in October 2005. It is hoped that a contractor will be appointed in May 2006, with work starting on site in October 2006 and completion of the project in July 2009.