AN NHS trust is moving out of its city headquarters in part due to the 'ageing' and 'inefficient' building.

Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust will relocate from Isaac Maddox House, in Shrub Hill Road, to King’s Court, in Charles Hastings Way, in the spring.

One councillor sees the move as an opportunity to revitalise the area around Isaac Maddox House.

City councillor Lynn Denham, who used to work in the building, said: “It’s a beautiful building. If they are moving out, that’s a significant regeneration opportunity. It’s got a lot of potential.”

Cllr Denham, who represents Cathedral ward, said the site has been used by the NHS for at least 30 years.

She said the building could form part of plans to improve the area around Shrub Hill station, as outlined in the council's recently released City Centre Masterplan.

However, Andy Pearson, co-owner of Rich Print, based in Isaac Maddox House, has raised concerns about the future of small businesses in the building.

He said: "It will be interesting when our lease comes up for renewal to see what sort of time scales they offer us."

Mr Pearson added that the The Filling Station, a sandwich shop in Shrub Hill Road, will be badly hurt by the move, due to the amount of trade it receives from NHS staff.

A spokesman for Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust said: “The decision not to renew the long-term lease at Isaac Maddox House is due in part to the fact the building is ageing and inefficient.

“It is also because of the potential for increased partnership working with our partners at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. Also the NHS will be paying rent to the fire service as opposed to a private landlord and therefore keeping the taxpayer pound in the public sector.

“The proposal would improve ‘back office’ partnership working with colleagues providing similar functions for the acute trust who are also based at the King’s Court complex.

“Alternative arrangements are being made for those clinical staff based at Isaac Maddox House but this won’t affect the clinics they run out in the community.”

The trust’s board approved lease terms for the King’s Court property, which is owned by Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority, earlier this year.

Roughly 250 NHS staff members are employed at Isaac Maddox House in a range of corporate roles, from human relations to legal services.

St Modwen, which owns the building, was unavailable for comment.