Work restarts at trouble-hit £8.3m council building
BBCWork to repair flood damage and address longstanding drainage issues at a £8.3m council building has restarted.
Voreda House in Penrith, which houses Westmorland and Furness Council offices, was shut for several days in September due to a leak caused by a failing plumbing connection.
The Lib-Dem authority has since been working to fix the water damage. It confirmed work to address longstanding issues with its drainage were also under way and expected to take two months to complete.
The council vowed to "work with third parties with a view to recouping repair costs." However, it refused to say how much money it had spent to fix issues within the building.
Voreda House was £6m over budget when it opened in May 2024, with 31 "key issues" later identified in decision making by the authority's predecessor, Eden Council.
A Westmorland and Furness Council spokesman said: "We are working through a process and it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage."
He added that it was expected the building would stay open to customers and staff while the work was ongoing.
It affects the ground floor, first floor and some external areas.
The spokesman added: "It is anticipated that the works will be complete by late April/early May 2026, subject to any unforeseen circumstances emerging."
