Police spend £450,000 on empty Sheffield building as two-year review 'ongoing'
“A decision was made to transfer remaining police staff working in Nunnery Square to another police building which was more fit for purpose”
A review into the future of a South Yorkshire Police office is ‘ongoing’ nearly two years after it was vacated.
The force moved out of Nunnery Square building at the end of 2023, with staff transferred to another police building which was ‘more fit for purpose’.
Since then it has cost £451,054, a Freedom of Information response reveals.
The large white building is visible from the Parkway and next to the Nunnery Square Park and Ride. It still has South Yorkshire Police branding on the exterior.
A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “We regularly carry out reviews of police buildings and premises within our estates to ensure that they are fit for purpose and serve the needs of the force and our communities.
“A decision was made to transfer remaining police staff working in Nunnery Square to another police building which was more fit for purpose, with this transfer completed by the end of 2023.
“A review regarding the future use of Nunnery Square is ongoing.”
The force responded to questions about costs on September 4, stating staff and equipment were removed by January 4, 2024.
It added: ‘Since then, the building, albeit not having an operational status, has been used for storage, training exercises by both SYP and South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue. The total spent since the force stopped using is £451,054.76.’
In June, Coun Ian Horner said leaving the building empty was not a good look and a “waste of public money.”
Speaking at the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel he said the car park should be used because the park and ride car park was regularly “overflowing.
He added: “We need to continue to deal with the police estate properly.”