Sale of old Staffordshire Police HQ fails at last minute

The sale of the former Staffordshire Police headquarters has fallen through at the 11th hour after the prospective buyer pulled out, citing "commercial reasons".

It is the second time negotiations have faltered at the last minute. Bosses had hoped to dispose of the old Baswich House base at Weeping Cross, Stafford, in May but the deal was hit with delays. Only two weeks ago, Staffordshire Police Authority announced that a sale had finally been agreed.

Chairman David Pearsall said the transaction was complete but for ongoing talks over section 106 funding.

He said today: "The authority has been involved in very detailed, advanced negotiations with two property development companies over the sale of land at the old police headquarters site in Cannock Road.

"After the first company withdrew, we entered into further detailed negotiations with the second company. That company then withdrew their offer at the last moment citing commercial reasons. Negotiations have therefore come to an end.

"In light of this very recent development, the authority is now reviewing the situation before determining the way forward, and will be considering a proposal next week to clear the site of the existing buildings."

Had a sale gone through, the demolition work would have been the buyer's responsibility. Some buildings, including the 160-year-old Baswich House, have already been bulldozed, because they were deemed unsafe. Housing developer Taylor Wimpey has already been awarded a contract to build up to 180 homes on part of the same site.

The Staffordshire force has been based at new £16million headquarters in Weston Road since February 2010. It had occupied the 16-acre site at the junction of Cannock Road and Weeping Cross since the 1950s. Last year, residents were consulted over the future of the former police headquarters.

It is not known what the mystery buyer had bid but when it went on the market last August the police authority said it expected to recoup £5m to £10m.