PLANS to overhaul Northumberland County Council’s headquarters have been submitted.

The local authority has lodged an application to refurbish and extend the existing reception, cafe and offices at its County Hall base in Morpeth to provide enhanced public facilities, a meeting suite and ‘leadership’ offices.

The new public reception area would be expanded to create an archive area and an exhibition space, and provide additional seating to allow the public to hold informal meetings.

A number of meeting rooms would be created on the ground floor, while offices would be rearranged on the first floor to cater for the council’s political leadership and bosses.

A range of work to the outside areas and the car park have also been proposed, as has the creation of a memorial area.

The proposals have been drafted up by Northumberland County Council’s Conservative administration after the party won power in May 2017. The previous Labour administration had planned to move the HQ to Ashington but this plan was criticised because of potential costs.

The refurbishment of the entire building will be carried in phases and is expected to cost £17m in total.