Former West Bridgford police station left as ‘pile of rubble’ as developer confirms timeline

The site in West Bridgford
By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter

A developer has provided an update on the former West Bridgford police station after a councillor said it has been left as a ‘pile of rubble’ in the town.

The former police station closed in 2020 and was torn down in September last year.

But the site has been left as what some people have called an “eyesore” for neighbours in West Bridgford.

Developer McCarthy Stone purchased the site and plans for 86 retirement apartments were revealed in March.

It said at the time the project should “significantly improve local housing choice for older people in West Bridgford”.

Now, the developer has told the Local Democracy Reporting Service it is “in the process of finalising our technical due diligence and detailed design work”.

The four-storey complex was planned to include a residents’ lounge, guest suite and roof terrace.

But Cllr Penny Gowland (Lab), county councillor representing West Bridgford North, said it was an “urgent problem”.

She said: “This is housing for older people which will in turn release homes for younger people, which is a critical problem.

“I suspect the problem is national finances which have probably affected the house prices going up. The cost of building has gone up which is a major problem.

“We’ve not got the extra homes we expected and residents have been left with a big pile of rubble. Houses on Rectory Road back onto the site and they are left with an eyesore.

“I think that the situation was already difficult because they already had a very large building going close to their houses.

“It would be good if the developer could clear the bricks because it looks like a right mess.”

A McCarthy Stone spokesperson said: “Following the demolition of the former Police Station on Rectory Road, we are now in the process of finalising our technical due diligence and detailed design work.

“We anticipate that this will be completed in August. We will be in a position to provide a further update on anticipated timescales for this development after this point.

“We would like to thank local residents for their patience during this time. We look forward to progressing with our plans to significantly improve the housing choice for older people in West Bridgford.”