£276k spent keeping 19 unoccupied buildings across BCP

Between January 2022 and December 2023, the authority spent £276k on security and maintenance costs on the unoccupied buildings.

BCP Council would not release a list of all 19 unoccupied buildings in its portfolio, but five that have been named are Christchurch and Poole’s civic centres, Poole civic annexe, the former college in Constitution Hill and Oakdale Skills & Learning Centre in Dorchester Road. 

Land off Constitution Hill, earmarked for a new major council housing development, has had £107k spent on it including £59k in maintenance costs. It has been unoccupied since September 2022. 

Oakdale education centre (Image: NQ)

Progress is being made to redevelop the Oakdale education centre site, closed in November 2023, to a “significant” number of self-contained homes for the elderly. 

Since November 2023, £49k has been spent on the site including £31k in maintenance costs and £17k for security. 

One unnamed site in the council’s portfolio has been unoccupied since September 2013 but only £130 has been spent on its maintenance. 

Sources at the council have said a full list won't be released over fears it would make the sites prone to vandalism. 

The data, provided by the TaxPayers’ Alliance, is “not the most up-to-date reflection of the council’s current programme of proactive work with its assets”, cabinet member for finance Mike Cox said. 

He added: “We continue to take active and positive steps to deliver a balanced and sustainable council budget over the next four years, at a time where difficult financial choices are facing many councils across the country.  

“As part of this, work is ongoing to dispose of, develop, or change the use of these assets and ensure each site provides the greatest benefit to taxpayers.” 

Christchurch civic offices

Christchurch Civic Offices, which has had £1,549 spent on it, are now being marketed for sale. 

Poole civic centre is being treated as a “priority”, Mike said, with the council exploring two options for this: disposal of the whole site, and disposal of the whole site minus the vertically sliced civic function. 

Cllr Cox added: “The council ensures its assets and property portfolio are managed in an efficient and effective way while prioritising the vital services that our residents rely on, such as filling potholes and adult and children’s social care provision. 

“We put sufficient measures in place to maintain and secure of our vacant buildings and ensure the requirements of our insurance agreements are met.” 

Shimeon Lee, researcher at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: "Taxpayers will be amazed by the property portfolio that has been built up by big-spending town hall bosses. 

“But what will really shock residents is the number of local authorities who have allowed prime real estate to sit vacant, despite complaining incessantly about the perilous state of their finances. 

“Councils across the UK need to carefully review their assets and ensure they develop a strategy for any that are being under-utilised.”