Largest tribunal centre in the country to open at last

The largest dedicated tribunal centre in the country is finally set to open at the end of this month - more than two years behind schedule.

The first in-person hearings at the London building will cover employment tribunals and begin in March, the Ministry of Justice said. The new building, in Newgate Street next to the Central Criminal Court has 30 hearing rooms, dealing a range of cases including employment, social security and child support disputes, and 40 judicial chambers.

The building is fully wheelchair-accessible with space described as ‘flexible’ to accommodate different room layouts ‘helping to maximise the number of hearings that can take place’. The hearing rooms have also been designed to be ‘greener and more efficient’, the MoJ said.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) announced it had purchased the seven-storey building in 2022, for a reported £111m plus VAT. In its announcement at the time, HMCTS said the building, following a redevelopment, would be operational with tribunals heard there by the end of 2023.

Minister for courts and legal services Sarah Sackman said the new centre was a ‘turning point’ in tackling the courts backlog. She added: ‘We inherited a justice system in crisis. Backlogs soared, buildings crumbled, and people waiting years for a hearing have been left in limbo. Everyday people are paying the price for years of neglect.

‘This new centre is a turning point. One of the largest tribunal centres in Europe, right here in London – part of our plan to modernise the estate, recruit more judges and restore access to justice.’

Existing sites at Victory House, where cases are listed before the London Central ET, and Fox Court will cease to be used once the new London tribunal centre is open with workloads moving there and ‘possibly other sites’ if necessary.

However some lawyers questioned whether the new premises would help cut court backlogs. Jo Mackie, employment partner with national firm Michelmores, said: ‘The government has a shortage of judges, magistrates and clerks in the court system across the UK because of cuts to services and increased stress on those that remain and are left to take on the extra burden. The claims have continued while the staff have reduced.

‘Opening another centre without also significantly increasing the numbers of trained professionals who can hear claims, conduct hearings and make judgements is a false economy.’

Florence Brocklesby, founder of Bellevue Law, said: ‘The extreme backlogs in employment tribunals currently represent a threat to meaningful access to justice for all parties, and the raft of new employment rights being introduced by the Employment Rights Act will be much less impactful if claims can’t be resolved in a timely manner. Any resource which addresses this is welcome news, but addressing the backlog will also require significant recruitment of employment judges to hear cases.’