'Leaky' crown court gets £14m towards repairs

Work to improve conditions at the court are expected to be completed by spring 2026

Nottingham Crown Court will get a £14m upgrade to help fix "long-standing maintenance issues" and reduce delays.

The building has previously seen a number of courtrooms out of action due to water leaks, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said.

In February, one leading barrister warned the justice system was on the "brink of collapse" after it emerged several courtrooms were closed the month before because of leaks and broken heating.

On Tuesday, the (MoJ) announced the project - part of a nationwide £148.5m maintenance programme - would include a new roof covering for the city's Canal Street courthouse.

'Delays are unacceptable'

The MoJ said the projects would help address "long-standing maintenance issues, reduce delays caused by poor infrastructure, and improve working conditions across courts".

Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC, said: "Victims deserve swift justice, and delays are unacceptable.

"Our investment in Nottingham Crown Court delivers modern, resilient, and accessible facilities, speeding up the delivery of justice and improving conditions for those who use them.

"We are committed to restoring public confidence in the justice system by tackling the backlog, rebuilding our courts, and ensuring swift access to justice."

The MoJ added funding for crown courts had also increased so they could sit more days this financial year.

Meanwhile, an "independent review of criminal courts" commissioned by the Lord Chancellor - and led by retired High Court judge Sir Brian Leveson - is exploring longer-term reform to reduce the backlog.