April 2008

Gwent Crown Prosecution Service invests in new state of the art offices

Welconstruct has completed a £250,000 refurbishment contract for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), delivering a high quality, state of the art working environment for the Cwmbran based operation.

The 88-strong CPS workforce has this month (April) relocated from its Newport office to 10,000 sq metres of transformed office space at Vantage Point Office Park in Cwmbran .

Welconstruct’s Bristol-based south west team secured the 10-week programme of works following a competitive four-way tender,.

Rob Clifton, project manager at Welconstruct, one of the UK’sa leading fit out and refurbishment specialists said: “The CPS is an integral part of the community in Gwent and it serves a very important function in partnership with other elements of the criminal justice system such as the local police force.

“Welconstruct understands the importance of taking a bespoke, tailored approach to this particular project that has resulted in a vastly improved working environment for the CPS here in South Wales.

“We worked to the timetable prescribed by the CPS, with a shared aim that the office fit-out will have a positive effect on the running of the business, putting it at the forefront of modern working practices and heralding a new chapter in the history of the CPS in Gwent.”

The CPS is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases investigated by the police. Its vision is to become a world-class, independent prosecuting authority that delivers a valued public service. The Gwent office covers one of 42 ‘areas’ of operation throughout England and Wales.

Located on Ty Coch Way, Cwmbran, Vantage Point Office Park is a scheme of serviced offices by Gloucestershire-based Vantage Developments Ltd which offers space for small and medium sized businesses.

David Archer, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Gwent, said: “The CPS is always looking at ways in which it can improve the public service it provides and a series of regular independent audits continually assess performance across a range of fields. The move to new premises is widely viewed as a leap forward to achieving groundbreaking levels of service, and the investment in the office fit out will give staff the best possible opportunity to work in an effective and efficient manner.”
Gwent CPS currently employs around 80 equivalent full-time staff. But in their former office, across three floors of Chartist Tower in Newport city centre, staff had to share desks through lack of space.
Mr Archer added: As well as offering a more central Gwent location, the move will also bring all CPS lawyers and staff back under one roof, including those who currently work from Maindee and Newport Central police stations.

Welconstruct has offices in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol. Welconstruct was appointed by DTZ in Bristol, agents on the Vantage Point Office Park scheme.