Known as County Hall, the new office is adjacent to Coleg Gwent’s Rhadyr campus in Usk and offers 2,500 sq metres of space over two-storeys. The multi-use facility also has conference and meeting rooms, a debating chamber with tiered seating and open-plan offices with 88 work stations for employees as well as access facilities for Monmouthshire’s residents to the council’s Development Control, Land Charge and Countryside teams.

Throughout the build, Willmott Dixon was sensitive to local wildlife, including nesting birds and four species of bat, and the building achieved BREEAM Very Good thanks to photovoltaic panelling, energy-efficient biomass boiler and daylight sensors to control lighting and reduce light energy wastage. It also has rainwater harvesting capabilities and is predominantly naturally ventilated for a more organic air supply.

Neal Stephens, managing director of Willmott Dixon in Wales, said: “We’ve been working with Monmouthshire County Council for over 13 years across various projects and we’re proud to announce that this latest contract has now been handed over to them on time and on budget. The new offices will provide the council with up-to-date facilities which are both practical and energy efficient. They have been built with the local environment at the forefront of our minds, with minimal disturbance to local species. They have also been built with the local economy in mind local subcontractors and suppliers.”

Monmouthshire County Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for Estates, Councillor Bob Greenland said: “This move has saved the council millions in public money, as our old offices were no longer suitable for use and would have cost significantly more to renovate to an acceptable standard. The new County Hall has a fantastic sustainability rating and has been built by Willmott Dixon to maximise the space available and suit the council’s practical needs. In particular, 200 of the council’s employees will work from 88 work stations, saving space and money through the council’s agile working facilities.

Willmott Dixon has previously worked on several construction projects for Monmouthshire County Council, including the recently completed Dewstow Primary and Nursery School in Caldicot.