The controversial Voreda House development in Penrith will open to the public for the first time on Monday.
Westmorland and Furness Council’s new offices are former NHS offices, which have been overhauled into an energy efficient building.
It has been designed to be the first retrofit office building to meet the PassivHaus EnerPHit standard in the UK, with energy savings estimated at 85%, contributing to the council’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.
It will house services, including children’s services, adult social care, housing, public health, Trading Standards and waste.
In the reception area, those with limited online access will be able to carry out self-serve internet-based tasks such as applying for blue parking badges, checking bin collection information or viewing and commenting on planning applications.
The Registration Service (births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships) will remain in Penrith Library.
Reception and customer access will be from 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, and 9am to 4.30pm on Friday.
After this Friday, council staff will no longer be based at Penrith Town Hall or Mansion House and there will be no access for the public.
.Allan Harty, the council’s assistant director of corporate assets, fleet & capital programme, said: “The opening of Voreda House is a key milestone in that commitment as it brings our staff together in a modern, fit-for-purpose building and helps us deliver more efficiently for the public.
“While the project started life under the former Eden District Council, it has been adapted and developed to make good on the new unitary council’s commitment to keeping its wider range of services close to the public.
“It provides a prominent focal point for those wishing to access our services in the Penrith area and also retains a significant number of high-quality jobs in the local area.”
The building’s opening reflects the council’s aim to create service ‘hubs’ in each of its main locations – Barrow, Kendal and Penrith. Last week the council agreed to focus further development in Kendal at the modernised South Lakeland House / Kendal Town Hall.
The final staff moves into Voreda House are taking place this week ahead of services being available on Monday.
Finishing touches were being made to the building this week, including resurfacing the pavement around the building to aid pedestrian access.
The building’s heating and cooling is provided by air source heat pumps. Solar panels on the roof are estimated to generate around a third of the building’s energy requirements. Considerably improved air tightness, greater thermal insulation and triple glazing all contribute to the building’s energy efficiency.
Work is underway looking at options for the future of Penrith Town Hall and these will be considered at a later date. Mansion House is due to be put back on the market for sale.
