Police and council to revitalise buildings across Staffordshire
Hundreds of police and council buildings across Staffordshire could be sold off, rented out as homes and businesses or developed under new plans, it has been revealed.
The entire property portfolio consists of around 450 buildings. Future uses for all of these sites will now be examined – with only school buildings earmarked as being safe from redevelopment.
The move comes as a result of a 10-year deal struck this week between the office of the Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Staffordshire County Council and property group Kier.
Despite the prospect of staff at the two authorities facing relocation over the next few years, bosses have declared at this stage that the agreement will not put jobs at risk.
The council owns the bulk of the premises which consists of about 400 buildings.
A formal list of sites is currently being drawn up and will be published, along with more details on the proposals, in early July ahead of the authority's next cabinet meeting.
Police also confirmed it too was compiling a list of the properties which need to be looked at as a priority, including the old headquarters on Cannock Road, Stafford. However bosses could not put an timescale on when further information would be made available.
Deputy leader of Staffordshire County Council Ian Parry said: "This new partnership will help us tap into the value of poorly used public buildings and raise funding to support key priorities.
"Instead of being mothballed or run half empty the new, fresh approach will see buildings revitalised and marketed to offer new jobs, homes and developments and allow the county council to fund what is important to Staffordshire residents."
Plans for what to do with each building will be handled individually and the council or police will have the final say on the move once a full business case has been drawn up.
It is possible that the deal between the three organisations, called the Penda Property Partnership, could be rolled out to other authorities.
Staffordshire PCC Matthew Ellis said: "People across Staffordshire want to see police officers out of police buildings and back on the frontline."
