Riverside House
Riverside House
The new council offices called Riverside House off Main Street are expected to be formally opened in Spring 2012, although staff have been moving in since November 2011. It is a large E-shaped building big enough to house the bulk of the council's staff. There is a very nice use of Rotherham Red sandstone (at least I presume it is Rotherham Red) but considering how much it has cost and will cost the outside fails to impress. Haven't been inside yet.
These have been built under a PFI which will cost Rotherham Council a very great deal of money in annual charges. At the end of it they won't even own the building: just have the option to buy it. I am not a fan of PFIs as those I've bothered to investigate seem to offer very bad deals, financially, and in the end it is Joe Public who pays.
Most of the council services will be provided in one place thus creating a one-stop shop for customers and providing convenient access to a range of Council and other services. The Council's chief executive Martin Kimber said:
"It will provide the town centre with a modern building that will greatly improve the services we provide to Rotherham people. By housing all services under one roof the Council will become even more efficient and will continue to provide an excellent standard of service to our residents from a single building, rather than dispersed across the town."
Facilities will include: - A Customer Service Centre, a public café, library and arts spaces, including a performance area.
Address:- Riverside House, Main Street, Rotherham, S60 1AE.