A new Magistrates? Court and Police Station in Hamilton is well on its way to becoming a reality after the Development Applications Board gave its permission for the plans this week.

Planning applications reveal the Canadian architecture company Carruthers, Shaw & Partners Limited. of Toronto have drafted a design the five storey Magistrate?s Court and Police Station complex.

The proposed development sits on the corners of Court, Victoria St. and Church St. and will include two vacant lots and the James Building parking lot. The L-shaped complex, a total of 20,000 square feet, will include a larger part of the complex on the north end of the site which will wrap around behind the Global House building.

A parking ramp will lead to the parking area under the building and is sited in approximately the same location as the existing entrance and the current parking facilities off Court Street. The ground floor of the complex will contain the court lobby which links the four storey office building and main complex to the Police Station and associated facilities.

The second floor of the new court will feature a main lobby, four courtrooms and associated facilities. The third floor will include a fifth courtroom for family court. The fourth floor of the building will be used for file rooms and data storage areas while the entire fifth floor of the complex will contain mechanical rooms.

Prisoners will be brought into court through the Sally Port entrance of Victoria Street. The new entrance to the Hamilton Police station will be on Victoria Street.

The complex also includes bathroom facilities, storage rooms and a changing room. Twenty-two vehicles will be able to park in the complex along with nine vehicles.

Architects have designed the building with modern Georgian style features including a recessed caved porch along the Court Street. entrance.

No objections were lodged against the application from either the Corporation of Hamilton which ensures buildings fall within the 2001 Hamilton City Plan. No objections were also filed by the general public. The application, received on January 31, 2003, was revised on August 13 this year.

In order for construction of the site to go ahead the landscape plan for the area must be vetted and approved by the Corporation of Hamilton prior to the Board?s consideration.

Court officials were not able to confirm when construction would begin on the complex but they welcomed plans for a facility which would include extra court rooms and increased security measures.

Head Court Officer at Magistrates? Court Tracy Kelly said yesterday that construction was not slated to begin for another year or two down the road.

Mr. Kelly said the addition of another court room would help to ease the backlog of cases and to increase efficiency.

?We can?t wait to get there, the court needs to be housed in a proper facility, this will allow for increased security, better technology and a good network of communication systems,? he added.

Works & Engineering did not return calls when contacted by .