A new large tribunal centre will open at the end of February to deal with the current backlog of around 66,310 cases, the government has announced.
The building in central London will house 30 hearing rooms, 40 judicial chambers and support up to 60 judges.
It will tackle cases including employment, social security and child support.
Sarah Sackman KC, minister for courts and legal services, 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, part of our plan to modernise the estate, recruit more judges and restore access to justice.”
Reacting to the news, Jo Mackie, employment partner at law firm Michelmores, said:
“The government has a shortage of judges, magistrates and clerks in the court system across the UK because of cuts to services and increased stress on those that remain and are left to take on the extra burden.
“The claims have continued while the staff have reduced. Opening another centre without also significantly increasing the numbers of trained professionals who can hear claims, conduct hearings and make judgements is a false economy.”
Among the measures included in the government’s new Employment Rights Act are increasing the standard time limit for bringing most employment tribunal claims from three months to six months.
Florence Brocklesby, founder of Bellevue Law, said:
“The extreme backlogs in employment tribunals currently represent a threat to meaningful access to justice for all parties, and the raft of new employment rights being introduced by the Employment Rights Act will be much less impactful if claims can’t be resolved in a timely manner.
“Any resource which addresses this is welcome news, but addressing the backlog will also require significant recruitment of employment judges to hear cases.”