YORK’S new council headquarters is increasingly likely to be shared with other organisations, in a bid to save money.

James Alexander, the new leader of City of York Council, said he had asked its chief executive Kersten England to try to find ways of cutting costs.

Coun Alexander said: “I have requested the chief executive look to increase the likelihood of sharing the building with partners to reduce costs to the council.

“This work will come to fruition in September. This means we can bring more of an income into the council as rent for sharing the space to help counteract the effect of Conservative-led cuts on council services.”

He said the changes would also allow residents to access a greater variety of services in one place.

The council is moving into West Offices, in Station Rise, in a £43 million relocation project from its various buildings elsewhere in the city.

It had originally planned to move to Hungate, but those plans were scrapped last year following widespread criticism.