New homes plan at police HQ
Homes could be built on the site of the Staffordshire Police headquarters in Stafford.
The force is set to relocate its nerve centre to a new base at Stafford Technology Park in November and bosses are hoping the housing market recovers sufficiently to attract developers to the Cannock Road site.
The Weston Road HQ was previously put up for sale, but was later taken off the market because of the credit crunch. Staffordshire Police Authority bosses hope securing planning permission for housing will make the plot more desirable to potential buyers when it is put back up for sale.
An outline planning application, sent to Stafford Borough Council, says the site is suitable for housing because it is in a residential area, and could provide a mix of homes, including affordable housing.
David Pearsall, acting chairman of the police authority, said: "About two years ago we started to sell part of the site but, because of the recession, developers pulled out. We are now hoping to market the whole site and have submitted the planning application.
"We are hoping the recession will pass and developers will start looking at our site again and we will be one step further on when that happens."
Mr Pearsall said the successful bidder will negotiate with the council's planning department as to how many homes will be built.
The site boasts close proximity to shops, services, leisure facilities and the town centre. A deadline of July 28 has been set for comments on the application.
The force's core departments in Stafford are currently split between two sites in Cannock Road and Weston Road.
