LANDMARK buildings in Huddersfield could become new offices for Kirklees Council.

Councillors are looking at ambitious plans to consider moving into historic mills, a warehouse - or even into the proposed Waterfront Quarter at Chapel Hill.

The plans could mean a new lease of life for the St George's warehouse and Folly Hall Mills.

The plans - in their infancy - are part of a new study being drawn up by the council.

Their vision has been put forward to councillors as part of a long-term plan to streamline services.

The Strategic Office Accommodation Review was put to the council's Overview and Scrutiny Panel, outlining suggestions on how council services can be improved for customers through the creation of a more efficient working environment for office staff.

The review outlined the possibility of moving some council services to a smaller number of larger and better equipped offices.

Possible new locations are historic buildings Folly Hall Mill, the planned Waterfront Quarter and the St George's Railway Warehouse.

The strategy plan, which is still in discussion stages, focuses on the buildings currently occupied by the council, considering how they can be improved, and whether some services should be moved to aid public access and streamline services.

As part of the strategy, a `customer campus' will be created, making services more centralised so that members of the public can have better direct contact with staff.

Andrew Howard, the council's Head of Design and Property Services, said: "There are 36 buildings across Kirklees occupied by 3,000 staff and 149 administrative facilities with 5,000 staff.

"About 80% of administrative staff are based in the Huddersfield area and the quality of the buildings they work in vary greatly, with many being of poor quality and costing a lot to maintain.

"The impact is that staff efficiency is limited, and this restricts ways the council can move forward. There is significant room for improvement."

The strategy looks at ways of making better use of the council's assets and improving staff productivity.

It is envisaged that the move to improve council services will see a smaller number of larger and more flexible buildings being acquired and the possible disposal of currently occupied buildings such as the Crown Court Buildings, Waverley Chambers, Somerset Buildings and Kirkgate Buildings.

A vision of future council offices is that they will have a clearer, more uniformed branding, have better technology, more space and be more open plan in a move away from closed council offices.

It is hoped that investing in a more comfortable working environment will aid staff productivity, morale and recruitment.

Mr Howard said: "It is not a case of creating plush new offices for the council.

"We are trying to improve council services to reflect the core aims of the council, for example better communication channels between staff and customers."

The council's revenue budget for office accommodation for the year is just over £6m.

It is expected that the costs of running the earmarked sites over the next 25 years will be considerably less than those of the council buildings currently occupied.

The action plan has already been approved by Cabinet.

It is envisaged as a long-term investment by the council and that the new office accommodation could be acquired in the next two years.