A SWATHE of scaffolding has been erected for major repairs on the county council headquarters in Winchester.
Around a quarter of Elizabeth II Court in Winchester have been vacated to allow for the repair work.
Windows which were installed in the revamp around 15 years ago are leaking.
The contractor which undertook the initial work has been brought back to sort the building at no cost to the public purse.
A council spokeswoman said: "External windows and metal wall panels on the East, North and West wings of Elizabeth II Court in Winchester are currently being replaced to resolve water leaks.
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"The contractor that refurbished these wings in 2009 has accepted responsibility for the issue and is making the repairs at its own cost."
The cost of the repairs has not been revealed, despite requests from the Chronicle.
The work is due to finish next year when staff will return.
Meanwhile the county council is looking at the amount of space it needs for staff in Winchester and across the county.
The Castle complex in Winchester has around 39,000m2 of space and some 10,000m2 is affected by the repairs.
The county council currently has one empty building, Capital House on Andover Road, the temporary home of the library when its normal base on Jewry Street was being redeveloped for the Discovery Centre, now known as The Ark. Capital House is currently being sold.
The spokeswoman added: “Looking at the longer-term, we are already reviewing our office accommodation both in Winchester and across our wider estate, seeking to maximise use of our buildings and ensure they are meeting the needs of our organisation both now and into the future – something that people also told us in this summer’s public consultation that we should explore.
“Hampshire County Council has always carefully monitored the use of its offices to ensure they remain cost-effective, and to release savings whenever possible. We are also mindful of our role in the local economy, and the needs of local residents and our partners.
“Many staff spend a significant proportion of time working in the community to serve our residents, enabled by technology, and no longer need the same amount of office space. Also, like many organisations, the County Council has been working differently since the Covid-19 pandemic, creating an opportunity for significant savings on the cost of running offices. We look forward to further modernisation and streamlining of our operations in future.”
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