- State-of-the-art centre housing 30 hearing rooms to open in
central London
- Backed by £148.5m to repair and modernise the tribunal estate
- Part of the government's Plan for Change to tackle the
tribunal backlog
The UK's largest dedicated tribunal centre is set to open at the
end of February, dealing with disputes that affect people's
day-today-lives and boosting access to justice for individuals
across England and Wales.
This centre will tackle a range of cases, such as employment,
social security and child support, as demand in London continues
to rise.
The first in-person hearings will cover employment tribunals and
begin at the start of March, helping to address the current
backlog of over 66,310 cases - a figure that has put serious
pressure on local services.
Minister for Courts and Legal Services KC said:
We inherited a justice system in crisis. Backlogs soared,
buildings crumbled, and people waiting years for a hearing have
been left in limbo. Everyday people are paying the price for
years of neglect.
This new centre is a turning point. One of the largest tribunal
centres in Europe, right here in London – part of our plan to
modernise the estate, recruit more judges and restore access to
justice.
The state-of-the-art hub in central London will house 30 hearing
rooms, 40 judicial chambers and support up to 60
judges.
Equipped with the latest technology and fully
wheelchair‑accessible, the new hearing rooms have been designed
to be greener and more efficient. The flexible space can
accommodate different cases and room layouts, helping to maximise
the number of hearings that can take place.
The government is investing £148.5 million to repair and
modernise the estate across England and Wales, while recruiting
up to 1,000 new judges and tribunal members to ensure cases are
heard more quickly.
