Buyer found for 'oldest police station in Hull' despite campaign to save it

Venn Academy Trust has made the unconditional offer to buy Gordon Street police station, off Boulevard, for the guide price of £350,000. The building has been vacant since 2018 and has become a target for antisocial behaviour, according to a decision record of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Humberside Police say the building is surplus to requirements and is costing thousands of pounds to maintain, but the decision to sell it prompted a campaign to try to save the police station, led by the St Andrews Regeneration and Redevelopment community group.

The campaigners claimed that the 19th-century building was the oldest police station in Hull and a total of 222 people signed a petition called for its reinstatement. They argued that the building underwent £1.3m of refurbishments in 2008 and reopening it would help in tackling antisocial behaviour in the wider area.

However, the decision record signed off by Jonathan Evison, the Police and Crime Commissioner, states: “The property has become a focus for antisocial behaviour due to it no longer been occupied. The ongoing running of the property despite no longer being operational is still costing Humberside Police in the region of £12,000 in utilities, security and compliance costs.

“An opening view session was conducted which saw in the region of eight separate parties attend the site and express interest. The offer from the Venn Academy Trust would seem the most viable and attractive given its presence in the local community and support it brings to the children and residents of the area.”

Venn Academy Trust, which already runs services in the nearby Boulevard Centre, plans to use the building for educational purposes. It is understood that the force plans to reinvest the money raised from the sale into developing its remaining estate.

A brochure from estate agents Clark Weightman initially pictched the site for conversion into apartments and homes. John Smith Architects previously drew up plans to put six apartments inside the building and seven newbuild homes in its yard.