Surrey Police Authority has instructed Bruton Knowles to launch the planned disposal of six former police stations and offices, which are located in highly desirable Surrey locations in Banstead, Camberley, Egham, Farnham, Leatherhead and Woking, as well as a prime development site in Horley.
The properties offer a number of development options including conversion and extension or comprehensive redevelopment, and are suitable for a range of uses including mixed-use schemes, commercial, residential or retail.
These properties represent the third phase of a planned disposal programme, which began in March 2011, and follows the successful marketing exercise for the first phase comprising seven properties, and the second phase comprising eight properties. The first and second phase properties received considerable interest, with offers accepted for a range of commercial and residential uses. The third phase is the final phase of the disposal programme.
Fraser Castle, associate at Bruton Knowles’ Guildford office, said: “As we have seen with the phase one and two properties, there is huge interest and demand for quality sites in desirable Surrey locations where the opportunity to develop prime town centre sites seldom arises. Each of this new tranche of properties is representative of significant and highly desirable Surrey real estate, with some sites presenting a wide range of potential uses. Not surprisingly, we are expecting to see huge interest from both residential and commercial developers.”
The disposals follow a strategic estates review that Surrey Police has been working on over the past four years to seek out capital receipts and revenue savings for reinvestment in front line policing in Surrey.
Peter Williams, Chairman of Surrey Police Authority, commented: “As part of a wider reorganisation of the force, we have been working to replace many of our stations and offices with more cost-effective alternatives. By relocating neighbourhood police teams to new locations such as council offices and community centres, we are maintaining our presence at the heart of our communities whilst making savings that have helped us to increase the number of police constables in Surrey at a time of significant financial pressure on the police service.”