£14m investment in Nottingham Crown Court to replace leaking roof which forced closure of courtrooms

A £14million investment will see a leaky crown court roof repaired, reducing the number of court rooms out of action.

Nottingham Crown Court will receive the major investment as part of a nationwide £148.5m maintenance programme to tackle ‘neglected’ court buildings, improve working conditions, and modernise facilities to reduce delays in justice.

The programme at the Canal Street court building will involve the installation of a new roof covering to resolve ongoing issues of water leakage throughout the court building, which has caused the closure of several courtrooms.

Upon completion, the national project will help address long-standing maintenance issues, reduce delays caused by poor infrastructure, and improve working conditions across courts.

The works at Nottingham are due to be completed by Spring 2026.

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.”

Alongside improvements to court infrastructure, the Lord Chancellor has commissioned an independent review of the Criminal Courts, led by Sir Brian Leveson, which will explore options for longer-term reform to reduce the backlog and restore public confidence in the justice system.

Government funding has been increased to allow crown courts to cumulatively sit for 4,000 more days this financial year compared to the last.