14-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
First look at Galway City Council's planned HQ as concerns remain over €36m building's long-term viability
This was certainly the view of Galway City Council chief executive Leonard Cleary on Monday during a tour of the local authority's new Crown Square development.
Mr Cleary believes that not moving to the new development would be 'fiscal folly' but conceded that Galway City Council might outgrow the office space sooner than expected due to an expanding workforce.
The Irish Independent visited the Crown Square site on Monday during a media event followed by a special Galway City Council meeting – where over 120 people from the public logged onto Zoom to observe proceedings.
The council acquired the building at Crown Square, Monivea Road, situated approximately 1.5km from the city centre, in late 2022, after the current City Hall on College Road was labelled as 'no longer fit for purpose' due to structural issues as well as staff overcrowding.
However, councillors have on Monday raised concerns that the new building will also be too small for the increasing number of staff.
Galway City Council had 555 staff members in 2022, but that number has risen to 655 (247 of which are outdoor staff) in 2025 and it is expected to exceed 1,000 by 2029, according to the Strategic Workforce Plan.
The Crown Square headquarters are projected to have only 347 workstations as well as a variety of collaborative spaces throughout.
Councillors also raised concerns that, even before the building reaches full capacity, there will not be enough private offices for sensitive roles such as social workers and housing agents who handle confidential matters.
Much of the solution provided for a potential shortage in workspaces is the amount of collaborative stations that are intended for the building, allowing employees to 'book out' meeting rooms and collaboration spots to work from.
The local authority also explained staff numbers include outdoor staff, and a three-days in/two-days out working policy will be in place. Data from the council's clocking system and TII research show that Wednesdays have the highest attendance, with 60% of employees working on-site.
Increasing cost for the building thus far was also a cause for concern.
Cllr Cloddagh Higgins said that between the already borrowed €45m approved by elected members in 2022 from the Housing Finance Agency for the acquisition of the building and additional costs in legal fees and valuations 'adds to the unease surrounding Crown Square' as time goes on.
An estimated delivery of 12-18 months was given to councillors in 2023, and the delays have cost the council almost €3m. Cllr Eddie Hoare said: 'Every second or minute that goes by is costing us money.'
A cumulation of €1.5m has been spent on the project design fees and due diligence. This figure includes VAT.
Galway City Council explained the move avoided a combined estimated cost of €107 million by consolidating four existing office sites into one.
The refurbishing and expansion of the current City Hall – which was built in the 1980s and has been labelled as 'no longer fit for purpose' – was estimated at €69 million. In addition, a further €38 million would have been required to temporarily relocate staff to suitable office space during the works.
Chief Executive at Galway City Council Leonard Cleary said the decision to purchase was 'a good decision' and the most 'financially efficient option' while he described the refurbishment option as 'fiscal folly'.
'It has taken over a long process of due diligence and research on options. The final option was to invest in a building that you own, instead of leasing, the other option was not feasible.'
He added: 'The alternative, which is to redevelop City Hall site, is €38 million more expensive than moving to Crown Square. I could not recommend that option. It would be a fiscal folly.'
The council has seen the building's valuation decline from €36 million to €28-29 million as of May 2025. The local authority said that 'ultimately it doesn't matter' as the building is not for sale and once works are completed it will be a 'highly valuable' asset for the city.
Avison Young, those responsible for the second valuation, comment on factors like increased interest rates, structural office changes, inflation in construction costs, and the economic uncertainty currently being faced as factors in the numbers.
Also, it's estimated that through its 40-year life cycle the property's value will exceed its original €36m purchase price.
It is not known yet how much the final costs for the project will total.
In the meantime, the local authority is seeking approval from the elected members for a €60 million loan that will allow - along with other projects – the new building's fit-out.
The new energy-efficient civic offices at Crown Square will meet NZEB standards and LEED Gold certification. The building will feature modern facilities, including upgraded AV systems, better public access, and improved space for staff and civic events
Works are expected to be completed next year with staff moving into the new headquarters by the end of 2026.
In the past few months, criticism has also emerged from part of the staff.
The local authority stated that the next steps in addressing many of the councillors' questions will come through a masterplan. This plan will incorporate input from staff, public engagement, and union consultations regarding the Crown Square development. A key focus will be on a mobility plan to ensure smooth commuting access for both staff and the public.
