Castle Meadow

There was to be parking for 350 cars, and 37,000 square metres of office. The Inland Revenue bought the seven-acre site from British Rail in April 1990. It was planned to open in 1992, and to cost £58m. In May 1997 many staff complained that the building made them ill, due to high temperatures, with headaches and blurred vision.

The first designs in January 1991 were described as being 'like a 1960s comprehensive school'. The local council planning committee did not like the design, and told the Inland Revenue to come up with something a bit better in July 1991, describing the design as 'too 1960s' and had too much 'ugliness'. Six architectural practices were shortlisted in a competition in October 1991. The six competing designs were announced on 15 January 1992. Hopkins design was announced as the winner on Monday 24 February 1992, by Francis Maude. The buildings were designed by Hopkins Architects with engineering by Arup Group. The design employs natural ventilation. The main Amenity Building has a fabric roof…