Croydon Council is planning to relocate the South London Coroners’ Court to Bernard Weatherill House, as reported by our sister title London Now.
The court, which serves Croydon, Bromley, Bexley and Sutton, is currently based at Davis House, which council officials say is “out of date and not fit for purpose”.
A Croydon Council spokesperson said the move would ensure value for money for residents by replacing the existing facility with a purpose-built space, London Now reports, where further details of the proposal can be read.
Croydon Council has revealed that Bernard Weatherill House, its main headquarters and located just behind Davis House, has been identified as the preferred new location for the court.
The council bought Davis House for £19 million in 2008 and put it on its asset disposal list in 2023.
This scheme has involved the sale of various council-owned properties to help address the authority’s estimated £1.4 billion debt.
Davis House was due to be sold in 2025–26 but is still unsold after the disposal process was paused.
In budget reports, the council said it is looking at “new options” because of the market and its needs, leaving 2025–26 capital receipts "substantially less than anticipated."
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How the coroners’ court move would be funded
Of the £255,000 total, £191,000 is expected to come from the other three boroughs.
Croydon has also set aside £4.305 million for the following year, with £3.229 million expected from partners.
Services under review include secure mortuary facilities and forensic post-mortem care, most of which are provided by Croydon University Hospital.
The council has set aside £150,000 for the review in 2025–26 and another £100,000 in 2026–27.
A spokesperson said: "We are working with our NHS partners to review the statutory mortuary service and aim to have recommendations ready this summer."
Croydon Council finances and property recovery plans
Croydon Council is still trying to get more from its property portfolio as it battles to fix its finances.
Moving the South London Coroners’ Court and selling Davis House are two of the options on the table as the council faces ongoing financial pressure.
The council said it will decide what happens to Davis House and where the court goes after weighing operational needs and value for money.
No timescales have been confirmed for the court’s move.
What the South London Coroners’ Court does
The South London Coroners’ Court investigates violent, sudden or unexplained deaths, and deaths in state custody, across Croydon, Bromley, Bexley and Sutton.
It helps protect the public by establishing how people died and flagging risks to others.
The council says studies are under way but it still has not confirmed when the court will move or what will happen to Davis House.
Officials said they will give updates as they make progress and more details emerge.
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