[4] The site was occupied by the Roman Lower West Gate and the planning authority required that the remains be preserved and protected underneath the new building.

The fifth and sixth bays from the left featured deeply recessed openings on the ground floor with a glass balcony above bearing the city coat of arms.

[10] The design was strongly criticised by the architectural historian, Nikolaus Pevsner, who said it had "absolutely nothing to recommend it ... it offends the Lincoln skyline and is an insult to the civic pride befitting the seat of local government.

"[11] The increasing responsibilities of the council meant that, by the early 1970s, some of its functions were being carried out at remote locations and there was pressure to collocate all departments under one roof.

[3] In February 2015, it was announced that the Orchard Street wing would be leased to the Department for Work and Pensions so that the local job centre could move into the building so forming a "public sector hub".