THERE has been a breakthrough in the plan for a Hereford building to become a temporary crown court almost three years after the ceiling collapsed at the Shirehall.

Jury trials have not been held in Hereford since June 2020, when timbers and plaster collapsed in court room one at the grade II*-listed 19th century building in St Peter's Square.

Crown court trials have been held in Worcester since, with some crown court sentencing hearings taking place at Hereford's magistrates court in Bath Street.

It is understood that jury trials cannot be held there due to the configuration of court rooms.

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But now, architects Austin Lord Smith and Herefordshire Council's building conservation team appear to have agreed on plans for Churchill House.

The landmark house, in Hereford's Churchill Gardens on Aylestone Hill, was built in 1860 and was operated as a museum for several decades before becoming a training centre.

It has been unused and empty since May 2021.

The council development permission still needs to be granted, but now that agreement has been reached, the plan could be passed.

In a heritage impact statement, architects Austin Lord Smith said Her Majesty's Court and Tribunal Service will be occupying Churchill House on a temporary lease and will operate the building as a court while repairs are carried out at the Shirehall.

The lease is expected to be for a minimum of 18 months, the statement said.

HMCTS is asking Herefordshire Council's planning department for permission to make changes to the building ahead of occupying it.

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Internal changes will be needed to provide fire protection measures and security measures, the application said, with a proposal to remove the majority of the building's historic internal doors and replace them with contemporary doors for the duration of the lease.

The existing doors will be kept in safe storage and returned to their original positions at the end of the lease, the statement said.

A new plasterboard and stud partition will also be required to house an IT server.

The plans said court activities will be held in the 1970s extension to the rear of the listed building and the coach house will be used as a jury room, with a temporary awning needing to be installed to cover the existing footpath between the buildings during poor weather.

Conor Ruttledge, senior building conservation officer, said the proposed temporary removal and storage of existing historic doors, and the installation of new fire doors and an external access awning are supportable interventions from a heritage perspective as they are reversible and will not unduly impact on the architectural interest of the building, or the amenity of the Aylestone Hill Conservation Area.

He said the plan should be approved, with conditions.