048/2013 – Disposal of former police station at North Park Road, Harrogate – 24 May 2013

Executive Summary and recommendation:

The former police station situated on North Park Road, Harrogate has recently been offered for sale at a public auction.

Whilst the police station did not sell on the day of the auction as it failed to reach its reserve, there was significant interest generated in the property and work has been ongoing with prospective purchasers since the auction.

A final submission date of 30th April 2013 was set and all bids received by that date were collated for consideration, with the intention that the property will be sold through the auction house.

This paper recommends that the Police and Crime Commissioner accepts the highest bid from that process, which is:

• An unconditional offer of £1,550,000, with a further
• £350,000 payment subject to securing planning approval

Police and Crime Commissioner decision:

Approved

Signature Date 24 May 2013
Title Police & Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire

Part 1 – Unrestricted facts and advice to the PCC

Introduction and background

he former police station situated on North Park Road, Harrogate has recently been offered for sale at a public auction.

Whilst the police station did not sell on the day of the auction as it failed to reach its reserve, there was significant interest generated in the property and work has been ongoing with prospective purchasers since the auction.

A final submission date of 30th April 2013 was set and all bids received by that date were collated for consideration, with the intention that the property will be sold through the auction house. As part of this process, and to ensure fairness and transparency the Auction House were requested to contact all parties who had previously expressed an interest in the property or made a bid at auction to ensure that they were not deprived of a final opportunity to bid.

As a result of this process there were four bids for consideration, both conditional and unconditional.

The bid that is recommended for Commissioner approval is both the highest value ‘unconditional bid’ and the highest value bid overall (taking account of the proposed additional £350,000 payment subject to successful planning approval). The recommended bid is as follows:

• An unconditional offer of £1,550,000, with a further
• £350,000 payment subject to securing planning approval

This paper recommends that the Police and Crime Commissioner accepts this bid.

Matters for consideration

The property has been empty since approximately July 2012 following the opening and move to the new Harrogate police station located at Beckwith Head Road, Harrogate.

The income realised from the disposal of the property is in line with the expected income and reflected in the Medium Term Financial Plan.

The disposal of the property to the developer will release North Yorkshire Police (NYP) from its obligations in respect of securing and maintaining the site and associated buildings, freeing it up for development, and bringing the site and buildings back into use.

Other options considered, if any

There was a significant amount of work undertaken between Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) and North Yorkshire Police with a view to HBC purchasing the site to develop for their corporate Headquarters facility. The intention was that NYP would then contribute towards that development and co-locate their Harrogate Town Centre Local Police Office within the new HBC Corporate Headquarters facility. However, application was made by a third party to have the former police station listed. English Heritage subsequently listed the site, and the impact of this listing decision was that HBC could no longer achieve the flexible open plan working space that it was seeking to provide. On this basis HBC could no longer consider the site to be a viable option for their new Headquarters facility and withdrew their offer to purchase the site.

Contribution to Police and Crime Plan outcomes

The disposal of the former police station contribute to the Police and Crime Plan Goal 4 (Fit for the Future) by ensuring that property overheads and the Estates footprint is reduced.

Consultations carried out

Consultation was initially carried out with the local community back in 2010, as to what kind of development/use they would like to see on the former police station site. Since that time there has not been any further consultation as a direct result of the proposal to dispose. However, there will be a requirement placed on any new owner/developer of the site to consult as part of their planning submission.

Financial Implications/Value for money

The proceeds resulting from acceptance of the recommended bid will exceed the current anticipated capital receipts from this property as included in the MTFP. This will mean additional internal resources available to fund capital programmes in 2013/14 and future years.

Legal Implications

Having read this report and having considered such information as has been provided at the time of being asked to express this view, the Force Solicitor & Head of Legal Services is satisfied that this report does not ask the Commissioner to make a decision which would (or would be likely to) give rise to a contravention of the law.

Equality Implications

There are no equality implications as a result of the proposal to dispose of the former police station at North Park Road, Harrogate.