Bermuda's creaking court system is set to get an overhaul with proposals for a brand-new multi-million dollar building to house both Supreme and Magistrates' Courts.

And a new court building would mean Senate could move in alongside the House of Assembly, taking up space vacated by the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

It is believed it would be the first time in Bermuda's history all the branches of the court system and the legislature would have their own, separate buildings.

Works and Engineering Minister C.V. (Jim) Woolridge last night revealed a team had identified the current car park at the Supreme Court Registry as a possible site.

He said: "One of the ideas which is being looked at is to go through from the Supreme Court Registry on Front Street right through to Reid Street, taking up the whole block.'' Mr. Woolridge explained: "For a long time there have been concerns voiced by people in the legal profession that our courts are totally inadequate.

"So we have been looking at areas where a proper court facility could be made available.'' The news came as Mr. Woolridge outlined his Ministry's Budget in the House of Assembly last night.

He told the House that Government departments either relocated or renovated were the Office of the Tax Commissioner, Department of Labour and Training and the Department of Shipping, Marine and Ports, while work was continuing on other departments.

He added his Department of Architectural Design had also assisted Airport Operations and private architects working on Government projects.

Mr. Woolridge said later that the new courts plan were at an early stage and full details and a time-frame had yet to be worked out.

But he added: "The way I see it is we could make Sessions House the legislative building with the House of Assembly operating as it does now and with Senate downstairs.'' Mr. Woolridge said the situation at Magistrates' Court -- Hamilton's Post Office before the GPO was built on the opposite side of Parliament Street was opened in the early 70s -- was particularly bad.

He added: "The Magistrates' Court especially is totally inadequate and it would be a good idea to have all the courts on one site.'' There are three aging courtrooms plus administration staff crammed into the current Magistrates' Court building.

The Supreme Court 1 and the tiny Supreme Court 2 are currently squeezed in alongside MPs and House of Assembly staff on Parliament Hill.

Judges and their staff of clerks are also accommodated on both the ground and second floor of the House of Assembly.

But Supreme Court 3 and the Supreme Court Registry are split off from the other two courts, placed on the corner of Front and Court Streets in another cramped building, once occupied by the Bermuda Fire Service.

Mr. Woolridge said: "We don't have a time frame for this, we are exploring and formulating ideas having identified a possible location -- although there could be others.

"But a replacement for the current court set-up is something we are in urgent need of.'' C.V. (Jim) Woolridge