Plans to fix Wakefield County Hall's leaky roof revealed as parts of building risk collapse

A report last year said County Hall needed "urgent and essential repairs"

The Grade I listed structure, which accommodates around 500 council staff, is in desperate need of refurbishment.

A 2019 report said that "urgent and essential" repairs to the roof were required to prevent parts of the building from caving in, after a number of significant leaks in recent years.

Meetings were moved out of County Hall at the start of 2018 as a precaution after rainwater damaged some of the plasterwork inside. Employees meanwhile, have complained about the building becoming a "dark and dingy" place to work.

The building hosts council meetings and accommodates around 500 local authority employees.

A total of £6.5m of public money has been set aside for the scheme, which is subject to planning permission.

An application put forward by Wakefield Council's property partner Engie earlier this month, said that a "backlog of disrepair and defects" need to be fixed.

A heritage statement by the company said the repairs would be "historically sympathetic" to the rest of the building, which dates back to 1898.

Pigeon spikes will also be put on the new roof to prevent bird droppings.

If approved, the work is expected to take around two years to complete.

Local Democracy Reporting Service