Council awards £15m deal for headquarters revamp

A £15m contract has been awarded to update Medway Council's headquarters and open it up for community use.

Apex Contractors Ltd will carry out the work to transform and modernise Gun Wharf, with a new council chamber and cafe.

The contract is part of a total £22m refurbishment, which will include work to tackle reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) which led to sections of the building being closed.

Some of the interiors will be updated, including the carpet which has not been changed since 1978 when it was the Lloyds of London building, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Council leader Vince Maple said: "Nobody would have wanted to find Raac in their council headquarters, but we did and we've had to deal with that.

"This is a Grade-II listed building, the work will be challenging, and the contractors will be managing that to create a 21st Century workspace."

Medway Council is due to be abolished under government plans for local government reorganisation in 2028, but the cabinet suggested the works would leave Medway better placed to be headquarters for a new authority.

Councillor Simon Curry said: "The new North Kent authority will be looking for a home somewhere and we will have something fit for purpose."

Meeting spaces and conference rooms, which can be used by community groups, will be created, alongside a self-service cafe and wellbeing spaces.

Energy efficiency improvements will include new windows and updated electrical infrastructure.

The first phase of the project is expected to start on 18 May and be completed by the end of the year.

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