Former ambulance HQ site is sold off

Stafford's former ambulance headquarters may be redeveloped for retail or commercial use.

The one-acre site in Stone Road has been bought by Shrewsbury-based Suma Developments Ltd.

Paul McLoughlin, one of the directors, was not prepared to disclose how much the site had cost.

He said they were now formulating ideas and discussing future use of the site with interested parties.

Mr McLoughlin stressed that Suma, who are speculative developers, were not primarily residential property developers.

He said that any plans for the site would be subject to planning permission being obtained from Stafford Borough Council.

No planning application has yet been submitted. Mr McLoughlin said the prime reason for buying the site was its central location.

"It gives us a great opportunity," he added.

Suma will be looking at a variety of commercial uses including retail.

Stafford agents Millar Sandy acquired the freehold site for Suma Developments.

It has extensive redundant office and workshop space.

The Birmingham office of Colliers CRE acted on behalf of the West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust in the transaction.

Stone Road closed in 2009 after a brand new £2 million ambulance facility that offers state-of-the-art technology opened.

Tollgate is now home to Stafford Ambulance Station, a brand new Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), Fleet Workshops and Corporate Services.

The phased move to the Tollgate site, off Beaconside, from the former premises in Stone Road, Stafford, began back in September 2008, with corporate departments, followed by fleet, courier transport service and A&E operations.

The switch was completed in October 2009 with the transfer of the EOC.