When
Bexley council
debated their options
for a new Civic Centre it wasn’t much reported that the council officers said the cheapest and
“highly efficient” solution was to redevelop the existing site but as everyone now knows the
vote went for refurbishing the old Woolwich Building Society HQ at a cost of £36 million.
The other alternative, a new building with a longer life in Erith for just over £40 million was
given pretty short shrift. The advantage of the chosen arrangement is that it moves Tesco from
a less than ideal shopping site to a more central position.
Nice for Tesco and residents of Erith
Road. What does Bexley council get? A second hand HQ not too far from the centre of town and if
you believe what they said last April, a saving of £1 million pounds a year. They’d get better returns from
paying off their debts.
Some insight into the high cost of refurbishing the Woolwich building was provided when council officers said
a new one to their precise requirements would cost around 15% more, something the News Shopper
rather mischievously reported
to be “short-sighted” given the latter’s much longer projected life. Now that detailed planning
for refurbishment of the Woolwich and the new Tesco is well underway, further insights into the
costs are coming to light. Bexley council is going to spend £36 million on their second hand
HQ, Tesco is planning on knocking down the old Civic Centre, digging a big hole in the ground for
a 520 space car park, putting three storeys of shop and storage on top (more than twice the size
of the new town hall) and landscaping a new plaza for only £30 million. Compared to tarting
up an old building it sounds like Tesco know how to be careful with their money and get the best
of any bargain.