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In other great news, the project is being showcased at The London Festival of Architecture (LFA), a month-long celebration of architecture and city-making that takes place every June across London. Exclusive tours of the Civic Centre prior to refurbishment will be taking place between 6 and 8 June. Haringey Council, Hawkins Brown Architects and Montagu Evans Heritage and Planning Consultant specialists, will provide guided tours and teach visitors about its heritage, architecture and what’s next for this very special building. Find out more information about this tour on their website.  

Five reasons why we are redeveloping the Civic Centre  

Supporting staff and ensuring their wellbeing, using the council's office space more efficiently, releasing vacant buildings for alternative uses to aid regeneration, reducing carbon and fulfilling our legal obligations are key strands of the strong business case underpinning the Civic Centre Redevelopment.   

The Council is steadfast in its commitment to refurbishing the Grade II listed Civic Centre and constructing an additional building on the former car park site, establishing a central headquarters for civic operations in the heart of Haringey. This is driven by five reasons:  

1. There is no do-nothing option: The Civic Centre is in a significant state of disrepair, necessitating substantial remedial work to prevent further deterioration. The Council is legally obligated to maintain and safeguard the Civic Centre as a Grade II listed building. Refurbishing the Civic Centre for office use and Alex House would be more costly than building new facilities that align with flexible working and sustainability goals while accommodating staff and services in the interim.  

2. Enhanced Facilities for Staff: The new development will provide improved, adaptable, and comfortable facilities that accommodate modern working patterns and support staff well-being. The Council's ambition to adopt a 'working flexibly' model will see staff working across a combination of office, community, and home locations. This new model requires a flexible and collaborative office environment, aiding in the retention and recruitment of staff to deliver quality services to residents.  

3. Centralised Operations: The centralisation of facilities will bring staff and democratic services (Councillors) back to the heart of Wood Green in a purpose-built Civic Centre, enhancing operational efficiency and accessibility.  

4. Ongoing Value Assessment: The business case for the project is reviewed annually to ensure it provides value for money. The most recent review was completed in March 2023 and presented to the April 2023 Cabinet, with the next review scheduled for the July 2024 Cabinet. This process aims to maximize opportunities for alternative uses of existing council buildings in central Wood Green, such as sale or rental, by freeing up office space through effective consolidation of the Council's office accommodation needs.  

• The current office space in Wood Green includes a significant amount of space no longer needed due to the introduction of flexible working principles, further accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which demonstrated the effectiveness of remote work.  

• This strategy is considered the best solution for meeting the Council's core office accommodation and democratic function needs.  

• It ensures the most efficient use of current Council assets, releasing existing office accommodations such as Alex House, 48 Station Road, and River Park House.  

• Inclusive design considerations, sustainability measures, and statutory requirements have been integrated into the design, ensuring the Civic Centre is accessible and comfortable for everyone, including those with disabilities.  

5. Climate Action Commitment: As part of Haringey’s Climate Change Action Plan, the Council is committed to achieving a zero-carbon estate. The new building and refurbished Civic Centre will significantly contribute to this goal, designed to deliver zero carbon in operation (with some offsetting) and replace poorly performing buildings. This approach will meet the Council’s aspirations for a sustainable, low-carbon future and avoid substantial investment in outdated structures.  

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Find out more about this history on our LGBTQ+ 365 pages: https://haringey.gov.uk/lgbtqplus365