North Somerset Council is set to sell its Castlewood office complex in Clevedon to Avon and Somerset Police for £7.5 million, a significant discount from the £12.6 million the council originally paid in 2010. Councillors will vote on the proposed sale on Tuesday, July 14.
The police force plans to transform Castlewood into a “regional policy hub” designed to support specialist policing activities. The facility will accommodate around 550 primarily desk-based police staff, enhancing operational capacity without affecting the existing Avon and Somerset Police headquarters in Portishead.
According to a report presented to councillors, the project is anticipated to bring substantial economic benefits. These include creating on-site employment opportunities along with supporting supply chains and contractors. The initiative also aims for long-term utilization of this strategic employment site.
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Originally purchased under a Conservative-led council as the primary office space for the local authority, Castlewood has since been earmarked for disposal. The current partnership administration, which has overseen the council since 2019, opted to sell the building in 2022 following the relocation of council staff to Weston-super-Mare Town Hall and other premises.
Though the 4.6-hectare site was planned to be redeveloped into 120 new homes, the council’s report explains that housing targets would still be met despite this change. Furthermore, retaining the building is expected to lessen environmental impact by avoiding demolition-related carbon emissions. Financially, the £7.5 million sale price exceeds the £3 million anticipated from the site’s potential housing redevelopment.
Notably, the council has yet to fully repay the original cost of Castlewood. Through internal accounting methods, £7.96 million has been repaid so far, with £4.64 million remaining. If councillors approve the sale, the transaction is expected to complete by December 30.