Staffordshire Commissioner Ben Adams has announced the former Staffordshire Police station at Hanley has been sold for a gross price of £1.25 million to Abode Student.
Abode Student is a UK-based property brand, which has been delivering bespoke student accommodation since 2014.
The sale is part of a forward-thinking joint estates strategy for Staffordshire Police and Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service, which sees both services now working from Hanley’s modern, purpose-built fire station.
Previously, police response teams were based in an old station a short walk away, which had been expensive to maintain, and failed to meet modern policing needs.
Co-location at Hanley came a year after both services successfully started working under one roof at Tamworth. It was another key step in collaboration, which has seen shared services developed in estates, procurement, human resources, finance and corporate communications.
Closer working arrangements have brought greater consistency, professionalism and quality in the support provided to both services, such as joint protocols for forced entry to building and searches for missing persons.
Staffordshire’s Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams said: “In these increasingly challenging times, it makes good financial sense for our Police and Fire & Rescue services to share buildings – especially when they are located just a short walk from each other, as they were in Hanley.
“Using public money efficiently is a priority for me. These savings mean we can keep investing in our frontline emergency services while keeping council tax low.”
CEO of Abode Group, Ashley Ladson, said: “We’re delighted to add the former Hanley police station to our portfolio. Our developments are of the highest quality and situated in the best locations, providing a premium experience for thousands of local and international students. Hanley is the next stage in that journey.”
