Government is to move all of Bermuda?s courts into the new Police station on Court Street as it seeks to rationalise space in crowded and pricey Hamilton.

The knock-on effect could see the Senate chamber move up the hill into the same building as the House of Assembly.

The original plan had been for Magistrates? courts only to share the new Hamilton Police HQ on Court Street ? a two-year project due to start on May 1.

But Works and Engineering and Housing Minister David Burch said he had added five new Supreme Court buildings which are also long overdue for replacement.

The new design will need one extra storey although only five storeys will be above ground.

The amended plans have yet to get approval but Senator Burch said he had intervened as it made sense to have all the cells in one building to maximise security.

?All of the courts, Supreme as well, will be in the same building.

?The House of Assembly building can be all the legislature so the Senate will probably move there which releases space in the Cabinet office.?

In a wide-ranging interview with Sen. Burch said it was part of Government?s wish to rationalise office use and cut down on expensive rental space by moving some offices to the Island?s extremities.

?We spent about $8 million on rent a year, we could save about half if we invested in regular maintenance of our own buildings and utilise resources at either end of the Island.

?At the west end we will pay $16 per square foot per month whereas in Hamilton you pay $60, so savings are quite dramatic.

?I also believe Government?s requirements for offices are driving up prices and demand. If you takes some of that it will come down. That benefits everybody, not just Government.?

He said Wedco will soon start renovating the Clock Tower to provide offices for elements of Works and Engineering.

Around 90 staff including architects, surveyors, engineers and admin staff could make the move in June and free up two floors of offices above the GPO building due for renovation.

?The plan is certainly the estates section, the architects to go. I have no objections ? whether I will get away with this or not I don?t know ? for the whole shooting match to go including me.

?Most of the people who come to the ministry are contractors looking to collect or deliver tender documents so they circle this building for an hour trying to find somewhere to park to then run up the stairs and drop off in ten minutes.

?It doesn?t make a whole lot of sense for the ministry headquarters to be here.?

It also made sense to get waste management offices nearer the job site and the water section near the water rather than in an office in the middle of Hamilton, said the Minister.

The Marsh Folly depot is in critical need of upgrade for refuse collectors said Sen. Burch who said work should start in the coming year.

?We are going through a complete analysis of the accommodation needs of Government with a view to deciding who actually needs to be in Hamilton and who does not.

?You will be aware, I didn?t think it was a secret, that we have been having discussions with HSBC along with other property owners in the city about purchasing office accommodation. That is the policy of this Government to not rent.?

He said a draft proposal would go to Cabinet to get back offices Government had rented to other people when leases expired.

?The result of that is we will certainly not be requiring office accommodation in the City of Hamilton to the level which would have existed when discussions with HSBC started.?

The review has also affected the quangos with the Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) scheduled to move to Southside by July 1.

?We are working on a plan for Post Offices across the island to collect rent so there would not be a need for one site.?

Other callers will have to journey to Southside said Sen. Burch who is overseeing the merging of functions held by BHC, the Bermuda Land Development Company and the West End Development Corporation.

?Most likely we will retain two outlets ? one at the west end one in the east end.?