West Lothian Civic Centre

Judicial building in Livingston, Scotland

West Lothian Civic Centre

The building in 2009

Location| Howden South Road, Livingston
Coordinates| 55°53′14″N 3°30′57″W﻿ / ﻿55.8871°N 3.5158°W﻿ / 55.8871; -3.5158
Built| 2009
Architect| BDP
Architectural style(s)| Modern style

Shown in West Lothian

West Lothian Civic Centre is a municipal building on Howden South Road in Livingston, West Lothian in Scotland. The building serves as the offices and meeting place of West Lothian Council as well as the venue for hearings of Livingston Sheriff Court.

## History

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Until the early 21st century, West Lothian Council was based at County Buildings in Linlithgow, which had been built as the headquarters for the old West Lothian County Council in 1935.[1] However, the council also owned Lindsay House on South Bridge Street, Bathgate, which had been built as the Burgh Chambers for the old Bathgate Town Council in 1966,[2] and West Lothian House on Almondvale Boulevard in Livingston, which had been built as the headquarters of the Livingston Development Corporation in 1981.[3] The council wanted to consolidate its activities at one location:[4] the site it selected was just north of Livingston town centre on the bank of the River Almond.[5]

The building was designed by BDP in the Modern style, built by Laing O'Rourke with a steel frame and limestone cladding at a cost of £53 million, and was completed in July 2009.[6][7][8] It was officially opened by First Minister, Alex Salmond, on 25 November 2009.[9][10]

The design involved an asymmetrical main frontage facing west onto Hochsauerland Brae. The layout involved three main sections: a clearly visible circular council chamber, and offices for council officers and their staff, to the south, a divisional headquarters for Police Scotland to the centre, and six courtrooms for Livingston Sheriff Court[11] as well as offices for the procurator fiscal and the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration to the north.[12]

Linlithgow Sheriff Court, which the complex also replaced, closed in August 2009.[13] Lindsay House and West Lothian House were both demolished shortly after the new Civic Centre opened.[14][15]

## References

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1. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "High Street, County Buildings with screen wall lamp standards and Provost's lamp (LB37399)". Retrieved 25 December 2022.
2. ^ "Chambers par excellence: Bathgate's fine new image". West Lothian Courier. Bathgate. 18 February 1966. p. 8. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
3. ^ "Livingston, Sidlaw House". Canmore. Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
4. ^ "Topping Out Of West Lothian Civic Centre". Build Scotland. 10 July 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
5. ^ "Livingston Civic Centre". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
6. ^ "Livingston Civic Centre". Urban Realm. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
7. ^ "O'Rourke snaps up £53m council prize". Construction News. 7 December 2006. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
8. ^ "West Lothian Civic Centre" (PDF). The Stone Federation. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
9. ^ "Alex Salmond unveils £50m Livingston civic centre". BBC. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
10. ^ "First Minister opens £53m West Lothian civic centre". Daily Record. 3 December 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
11. ^ "Inspection of the Conditions in which Prisoners are Transported and Held in Sheriff and JP Courts while Under Escort" (PDF). H. M. Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland. 20 March 2012. p. 73. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
12. ^ "Livingston Civic Centre". e-architect. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
13. ^ "Linlithgow Sheriff Court closes". Daily Record. 27 August 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
14. ^ Kerr, Marjorie (17 December 2009). "West Lothian Council revamps Bathgate office". Daily Record. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
15. ^ Kerr, Marjorie (13 May 2010). "Plans for West Lothian House". Daily Record. Retrieved 26 December 2022.