Council prepares for opening of new £4million HQ

Moray Council depute convener Allan Wright is just one of the officials to welcome the completion of the new £4million headquarters annexe.

A £4million project to revamp a local Moray supermarket into the new council headquarters has been completed.

The building at the east end of Elgin’s High Street has now been given a new lease of life, and will officially be opened to the public on February 29.

The first staff – currently located in approximately 20 buildings around Elgin that are either owned or rented by the council – will start moving into the new building on February 20. Eventually, 220 people will be working there.

According to council estimates, congregating all staff into the same building will save £200,000 a year. The local authority also expects to generate £1.6 million by selling buildings or terminating leases.

"I think it’s as good a £4million as this council has invested in a very long time," said depute convener ALlan Wright.

"It takes the council and the approach to the public, and the level of services we provide, into the next century."

For the full story, see this Friday's 'Northern Scot'