Chichester Job Centre to be moved further away from centre of city

The Department for Work and Pensions is currently based in the ground floor of 5 Southgate on the corner with Avenue De Chatres.

However the building is being converted into flats, with penthouse apartments due to be built on the roof.

The DWP have been told by its landlords its lease will not be renewed when it expires, meaning the Job Centre will have to find a new home.

It is proposing to relocate to new offices in the Southern Gate Business Park off Terminus Road just south of the railway line.

The DWP has submitted a change of use planning application to Chichester District Council for one of the three office units.

Its application concludes: “Job Centre Plus provides an essential service to local people by and dealing with benefits for people who are unemployed or unable to work because of a health condition or disability. It also assists them away from claiming benefits by placing them back into the work force and helps employers advertise jobs. It is essential to the welfare of the community and to the local economy that these services can continue to be provided in Chichester.

“The application site is a suitable location for Job Centre Plus. Staff and visitors to the Job Centre Plus are able to access the facility through a choice of easily accessible public transport modes as well as being convenient for private motorcar use.”

There would be around 54 staff in total at the centre of which 47 be full time.

The change of use from office space to financial and professional services has been submitted for Unit 3 Block B for the Southern Gate Office Village.

According to the applicant the building has been on the market for around a year and the Job Centre would be the first commercial use of the premises.

To comment visit wwww.chichester.gov.uk/planning using code 20/00816/FUL.

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