Surrey County Council has cancelled plans to move its headquarters from Kingston-Upon-Thames to Woking due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As a result of the current Covid-19 situation, the current tenants of Midas House cannot move out and the Council cannot get access to all of the building to make it suitable for its use. 

In addition, the procurement and commissioning of a contractor to carry out the necessary works to turn Midas House into a County Hall style property is just not possible under the current lockdown constraints. 

Although I am disappointed the County Council will not be moving to Woking as planned, this was inevitable with the current pandemic.  The Council is rightly focused on fighting coronavirus and protecting vulnerable local people.

If this move went ahead, there was a real risk the County Council would have purchased Midas House when the property market was at a high before the coronavirus pandemic but sold County Hall in Kingston-Upon-Thames when property was cheaper afterwards.  That would be unacceptable and not be value for money for taxpayers.

I am pleased the Council has agreed with me that Woking remains the best place for the County Council to have its Civic Heart once the pandemic is over.