Shropshire Star

Newtown government building snapped up by county council

A Welsh Government building has been bought by a local authority.

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Ladywell House in Newtown. Photo: Google StreetView.

Powys County Council has today confirmed it has added Ladywell House in Newtown to its commercial estate after purchasing the building from the Welsh Government.

With the purchase complete, the council say it will invest in the property over the next two years to ensure it is modernised and provides fit-for-purpose office accommodation for the current tenants and potential future commercial tenants.

Paul Griffiths, the council's strategic director for place, said: "Ladywell House is a valuable office asset for a number of key employers in the area, including several Welsh Government services.

"We hope to build on the existing relationships to ensure all current tenants remain in the building in the long term. We want to reassure current tenants that their occupation of the building will continue under the management of the council."

Welsh Government staff will continue to operate at Ladywell House in line with the Welsh Government’s Location Strategy.

Despite fears the purchase of the building would mean the loss of other council bases including Neuadd Maldwyn in Welshpool, the authority says no decisions of the future use of Ladywell House has been made yet.

Mr Griffiths added: "This is a commercial investment for the council and our immediate plans are to invest in the property over the next two years to ensure it is modernised and provides fit-for-purpose office accommodation for the current tenants and potential future commercial tenants.

"No decisions of the future use of the building have been made at this stage."