NEW FAMILY COURT FOR SHEFFIELD

19 Dec 2002 12:45 PM

A new family court in Sheffield has officially been given the go ahead by the Lord Chancellor's Department with the contract being awarded to a consortium comprising MJ Gleeson Group plc and Centreland.

The new purpose built family court, will be built on the site adjacent to the Sheffield Combined Court. The new centre will include two courts, two District Judges' hearing rooms and two smaller, less formal District Judges' hearing rooms. As part of the scheme, new offices will also be provided for the Group Manager and staff.

The contract for the design, building and servicing of the new court has been awarded under the Government's private finance initiative and is worth £5m in real terms over 25 years. Building work is expected to start in February 2003 and be completed in summer of 2004.

Yvette Cooper, Minister for the courts at the Lord Chancellor's Department, said:

"The new family court in Sheffield will meet the needs of the 21st Century justice system. It will mean that existing family work will no longer be dealt with at the Combined Court Centre but at a dedicated family court which will provide modern facilities and an environment more conducive to family cases.

"Facilities will include; comfortable environment suitable for family matters, video link facilities for young children and other vulnerable witnesses, discreet waiting areas, and an infrastructure capable of accommodating all known and anticipated IT requirements for office and in court use.

"This project is another good example of the Public and Private sectors working together in partnership to provide a good quality service for the public."

Sharon Greenhough, Court Service Group Manager for Humberside and South Yorkshire, said:

"The awarding of the Contract is a major step forward and we are working alongside the consortium to provide the best possible facilities for all who use and work in the family court in Sheffield."

Notes for editors

1. Family work in Sheffield is currently dealt with in Sheffield Combined Court Centre: The Law Courts, 50 West Bar, Sheffield, S3 8PH.

2. The preferred bidder is Palecastle Ltd. Barclays bank is main equity investor. Mouchel Consulting Ltd are acting as technical advisor to the Court Service.

3. Existing court staff that work on family cases will be moving to the new building.

ENDS