Haringey Council is set to relocate its Young Adult Services team from 48 Station Road to the Clarendon Road College building as part of a strategy to consolidate services and improve efficiency. The decision, approved by Councillor Ruth Gordon, Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Local Economy on Thursday, March 12, 2026, will see the team, which supports young people aged 16-25 and care leavers up to 25, move to the ground floor of the Clarendon Road College building. The first floor will be occupied by the Parking and Civil Enforcement team.
This move is projected to deliver significant cost savings. The annual running costs for Clarendon Road are estimated at £68,431.32, a substantial reduction from the £311,000 required for 48 Station Road. This represents an annual saving of £242,568.68 in building running costs alone. The council aims to fully decommission and vacate 48 Station Road by the end of 2026. The specific operational costs associated with 48 Station Road, including electricity, gas, water, and business rates, totalled £438,983.00 in 2023/24 and £403,066.00 in 2024/25, contributing to its higher expenditure.
The relocation is expected to enhance services for young people. The new location at Clarendon Road College is described as 'centrally located close to Wood Green with good local transport links', facilitating 'easy commute to outer parts of the Borough'. This improved accessibility is considered ideal for the service users. The redesigned ground floor space for the Young Adult Services team will feature secure interview rooms, a secure reception room, a large secure training room, and welfare facilities, alongside an increase in ground floor CCTV and door entry security.
The project aligns with several council strategies, including the Shaping Wood Green Strategy,
Accommodation Strategy,
and Wood Green Central Programme.
It also supports the Corporate Delivery Plan
priority to decarbonise. This aligns with the goal to 'decarbonise to create safe, clean neighbourhoods, promoting longer, healthier lives for the residents' by decommissioning and repurposing buildings like 48 Station Road.
The timeline for the refurbishment and physical move is estimated to take approximately 45 weeks, or about 11 months. This comprehensive programme includes design, approvals, procurement, construction, refurbishment, and IT/AV/CCTV works. The 48 Station Road building is slated for decommissioning and vacating as part of the 'Shaping Wood Green Strategy', with the area earmarked for redevelopment. The council's intention is to 'dispose/repurpose' the building.
Councillor Gordon highlighted that the decision followed consultation with the Young Adult Services team, who contributed to the redesign of their new space. The Finance team has also reviewed the proposal and expressed satisfaction with its financial prudence. The estimated refurbishment budget for the relocation is £1,200,000, funded from the approved General Fund capital programme.
Alternative options considered included maintaining operations at 48 Station Road, which would have perpetuated high operational costs, and relocating to 10 Bruce Grove. The latter was discounted due to significant structural works estimated at £385,000 and its less central location.
The Parking and Civil Enforcement team, which will occupy the first floor, has expressed support for the shared use of the building, noting the presence of 'distinct independent operational areas within the building and separate entrances for staff and clients'. Further details on the specific impact on their operations or public accessibility were not provided.
The decision was documented in the Printed minutes 12th-Mar-2026 10.30 Cabinet Member Signing.