A MAJOR proposal to close Liverpool’s Magistrates’ Court and relocate it to the Crown Court is being developed, the Daily Post can reveal.

The plans, which are being considered by Her Majesty’s Court Service, would see the Dale Street court shut and work moved to the Queen Elizabeth II building in Derby Square. It is thought magistrate court rooms in Victoria Street would also transfer.

Court service officials yesterday remained tight-lipped about the potential relocation, but staff have received information that the proposal has been approved in principle by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).

In an email from the courts service’s head of crime for the North West, Paul McGladrigan, staff were told: “I am pleased to tell you we have received approval from the MoJ to consider the possibility of establishing a single centre for crime within the city and based at the existing Crown Court QEII.”

He added: “There is considerable work to do to confirm whether the proposal is feasible and, to that end, we are to begin developing a business case for the project.”

Mr McGladrigan told employees the plans would see 16 crown courts and 14 magistrates courts all being housed in the Derby Square building.

Within the email, the courts boss told staff there would be “no formal announcement” while they awaited the business case, but he added: “Given that we have now let contracts for the technical expertise we need to further to develop the proposal, you will start to see some work undertaken.

“All decision remain subject to HMCTS (Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service) and ministerial approval, but I wanted to let you know at this stage that there was work underway.”