Thanet council has agreed the sale of the Pierremont Park depot in Broadstairs -subject to councillor call in before August 14.
A decision notice published by the authority today (August 6) says: “Following open market exposure, the accepted bid represents the highest financial offer obtained,”
The park depot site, without the access road, was marketed with a price tag of £475k.
The former district council depot had been in use since the 1970s but TDC said it was “vacated due to its condition and its location, which is too far out from the council’s main depots to continue as an operational basis.”
The site was listed with Clarke & Crittenden. It also appeared on Rightmove with the description saying: “Its close proximity to local amenities, transport links and the park’s green space makes it a standout proposition for sensitive development or innovative public-facing facilities (subject to planning permission).
“This 0.2 hectare former Thanet District Council depot site, strategically positioned on the edge of Pierremont Park in Broadstairs town centre is a rare vacant brownfield plot in a highly desirable seaside location. This parcel presents flexible options for redevelopment, community use, or investment.
“A number of buildings, previously used for storage. The site is approximately 49 m (160 ft) by 14m (46 ft). The site is accessed from a small road within Pierremont Park (not included in the sale).”
The price achieved is not listed, other than “the preferred offer exceeds realistic commercial expectations (£300,000 to £315,000),” and there is no indication of the buyer’s identity but it is not Broadstairs and St Peter’s Town Council.
Town councillors were informed today (August 6) that the site has now been agreed for sale to another bidder.
The Thanet council decision notice says: “Thanet District Council received two other bids for the site. Both were rejected because they were significantly less than the highest offer.
“Although one was accompanied by a schedule of potential non-monetary benefits for the council, when these were appraised, they could not be explicitly quantified in a way that linked back to the council’s statutory functions and were not sufficiently robust to justify acceptance of an offer of such significant undervalue.”
A report for the sale agreement adds: “Alternative community bids relying on unquantified social projections were rejected because public law precedent establishes that non-monetary benefits cannot justify a disposal at a substantial undervalue.”
The decision to agree the final terms of the sale of the property was taken by the Leader of the Council Cllr Rick Everitt following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Property, Cllr Ruth Duckworth. It follows Cabinet members’ agreement last year for the site to be put on the market.
In August last year TDC’s own planning application to create four properties, made up of three terraced houses and a bungalow, on the 0.2ha plot was refused by members on the planning committee.
The main concerns included vehicles using the current access which is in constant use by pedestrians.
In September the council shelved plans to dispose of the site via auction but agreed it would be sold on the open market with tenders invited and “account taken of the social value of each bid.”
Thanet council said any disposal would not include the access road which is within the park. Part of the reason for the asset sale is Thanet council’s need to raise £1.25m each year through disposals, with that money then being used for capital investment in buildings, repairs and maintenance.
Calls for the former depot site to be retained by the town council were made by campaign group the Friends of Pierremont Park and had some cross-party backing at district council.
The Town Council had agreed to work with FoPP and other stakeholders to develop a plan to help make the case for TDC to let the Town Council take it on.
At a town council meeting on February 3, town councillors had agreed that the Town Council continued to request a meeting with TDC leaders to discuss a simple transaction. The Town Council said it would work in partnership with TDC to bring Pierremont Park back to life utilising both Pride in Place funding and capitalising on the location of the depot to do so and agreed a group made up of FoPP and members of the Community Assets Committee develop a longer-term vision for the site.
District and Town councillor Mike Garner, who had been instrumental in the town council bid, said: “I am extremely disappointed, though sadly not particularly surprised, that Cllr Everett has sanctioned this decision to sell the old Pierremont Park depot to a mystery, commercial bidder rather than to the Town Council.
“As well as seeming to take little account of the social value of the town council’s bid, this decision is a slap in the face to the 1,500+ people who signed the Friends of Pierremont Park petition calling on TDC to stop a commercial sale.
“The Town Council, along with large numbers of local volunteers, are already working hard to maintain some of the town’s parks and gardens on licence from TDC and the Depot would not only help them to expand on these services but would also have the potential to support community projects, providing opportunities to benefit residents and visitors for years to come.
“I have already been contacted by a number of local residents angry about this decision and I will support them in making every effort to have this decision reconsidered and overturned, starting with the call-in process.”
County Councillor John Finch slammed the sale, saying: “The Pierremont Park depot sale looks like a desperate fire sale.
“The decision by Thanet District Council (TDC) to sell the former service depot at Pierremont Park to a higher bidder-completely ignoring the community bid from Broadstairs Town Council- is a shortsighted-betrayal of local residents.
“By prioritising a higher financial payout over long term social value, the district cabinet has chosen to strip Broadstairs of a vital public asset despite thousands of residents who backed an online petition and the tireless efforts the friends of Pierremont park.
“This aggressive offloading of community spaces feels less like strategic asset management and more like a desperate, final hour fire sale. With a looming local government reorganisation on the horizon TDC is effectively racing to hit disposal targets and balance its books before the authority is dissolved.
“Broadstairs town council stepped forward with a viable, community-focused proposal that would have preserved the park’s environment, protected and transformed the site into a public facing hub.
“Instead, TDC hid behind its statutory duty to achieve best value to justify selling the land to private interests for a quick cash injection.”
A spokesperson for the Friends of Pierremont Park said: “It is not in any way reasonable for TDC to sell off this public asset when it is protected by a Statutory Trust linked to the Public Health Act which states it can only be used to benefit the Pierremont Park Pleasure grounds. “The sale may have been “agreed” but presumably finalising it will take some time and we will fight this tooth and nail.
“The land should be transferred to the town council for the community focused uses it is intended to be used for and which the town council had developed a detailed plan for.
“The depot was previously turned down for planning permission and we believe will be again if any development is attempted which doesn’t retain its intended use – to benefit the park and the community. Any application will face a mountain of resistance.
“We are frankly disgusted at TDCs lack of respect for the community, transparency and respect for the terms of the Trust that protects this land and their complete failure to recognise the depth of public opinion about it.”
‘Best consideration’
A statement from Thanet council says: “Following open market advertising and an extensive internal review, the council has accepted an offer for the sale of the former depot adjacent to Pierremont Park, Broadstairs.
“A bid received from Broadstairs & St. Peter’s Town Council was not accepted. The bid was significantly below two independent professional valuations, as well as two other commercial offers, which were both considerably higher.
“In accordance with standard commercial practices, the identity of the purchaser and specific commercial terms remain confidential until the formal exchange of contracts.
“The council has a statutory duty to deliver the best possible value for money for all residents across Thanet. Under Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972, the council is legally required to secure ‘Best Consideration’ when selling land and property. This is to ensure maximum value for all of Thanet’s taxpayers.
“While local authorities can consider community benefits in certain circumstances, strict legal rules mean non-monetary benefits cannot replace direct financial value unless they deliver clear, cash-equivalent savings to the council.”
Leader of the council, Cllr Rick Everitt, said: “While we understood and respected the views expressed by local people, these cannot supersede the council’s responsibility to take lawful decisions.
“The former depot is not an existing community space and could only be offered for sale on the open market. We could find no route which was legally robust that would justify us disposing of it to Broadstairs & St Peter’s Town Council at a very significant undervalue.
“In addition, for the wider public benefit we had to weigh the council’s normal and general need to invest capital receipts in maintaining its continuing operational assets against retaining a piece of derelict land which it no longer required.”
The council will retain full ownership of the adjacent access road through Pierremont Park.
Disappointing news.
Helen for Thanet (i.e. Ms. Whitehead) has just written a blog post on facebook explaining the rational behind this, as well as apologising to all the residents of Thanet about the continual rubbish problems.
… only joking! It’s another post about her. TDC are obviously in financial trouble, so I doing what they can to carry on spending before they’re disbanded – regardless of the consequences of Thanet residents.
Has this council not effectively bought the next local elections with their rampant spending? the most obvious of which being paying the council tax of (iirc) 6000 households. (Well the portion that benefits don’t cover).
Though it’ll be hard to justify that generosity in the next budget.
As for the pierrmont depot, there’s no money to do anything useful with it , so selling it off for as much as possible is best way forward, though it’s daft that councillors stopped it from making even more by refusing to grant planning permission. Even dafter when the councils own planning deprtment recommended granting permission, effectively giving the new owner a green light.
Pity everything they’ve transferred was’nt to others was’nt sold for best price. Any bets on where the cash raised gets swallowed up?
There won’t be any more TDC elections, as they’re being scrapped before then. So they don’t care!
TDC have racked up huge debts, much of which has been spent on Cllr. Whitehead’s self-serving push for housing. She is also behind the creation of Thanet becoming a City of Sanctuary – ie. housing anyone in ‘need’. Labour councillors behave as if we have a bottomless purse. Their need for being seen to help anyone and everyone has, effectively bankrupted the hardworking taxpayers of Thanet. The sooner we vote these people out, the better. Next May can’t come soon enough.
She’s done more damage to Thanet than the luftwaffe!
When you have a local Council that seems intent on becoming bankrupt who can’t even provide the most basic Council service of collecting waste and recycling properly then there is no hope at all.
As others have said before, remember this next time you are asked to vote in local elections and please don’t let them anywhere near the new Unitary Council ! A fresh start is desperately needed.
I’m sure I read in a previous comments section about this, that it’s not theirs to sell so what’s happening with that? Or was that Chinese whispers
Incredible how these auctions work-do they usually take the lowest offer then?
It’s a carefully formed use of words, so that when it suits they can transfer assets to those deemed to be more worthy without the inconvenience of seeking best financial return.
Newgate gap shelter, The oval bandstand, granville, wintergardens , being things that come to mind.
It wasn’t sold through auction. It was sold through a bidding system which was supposed to take account of social value – ie benefit to the community. The Town Council does not have pots of money but it has an identified need for the space, but this was ignored despite the Town Council taking on TDC’s responsibility for maintaining the public gardens.
The map shown on the Indenture clearly shows that the depot is part and parcel of the ‘irregular’ shaped land in pink that was sold to the Urban District Council of Broadstairs and St Peter’s to be used for the benefit of the residents of Broadstairs for public walks and pleasure grounds and prevents development.
“This Indenture made the twenty sixth day of April One thousand nine hundred and fourteen between William Copping of Square Lincolns Inn in the County of London Barrister-at-Law of the one part and The Urban District Council of Broadstairs and St Peters in the County of Kent (hereinafter called the Council) of the other part.
Whereas the said William Copping is the absolute owner in possession of the heriditaments hereinafter described and Whereas by an Indenture dated the 23rd day of April One thousand nine hundred and fourteen and made between the several persons therein described and and therein and hereinafter referred to as “the Purchasers” of the one part and the said William Copping of the other part after reciting that the said William Copping and his predecessors in title had from time to time conveyed portions of the Pierremont Park Estate at Broadstairs in the County of
Kent of which the hereditaments hereby assured form part to the Purchasers or their predecessors in title and had granted certain licences to use certain ornamental grounds forming part of the said Pierremont Park Estate to such purchasers it was witnessed that for the consideration therein mentioned the Purchasers and each of them for themselves and their and each of their heirs executors administrators and assigns thereby released the said William Copping his heirs executors administrators
and assigns and also the said Pierremont Park Estate from the licence to use the ornamental grounds and other lands to the Council for the purpose of public walks and pleasure ground freed and discharged from the said licences
And Whereas the said William Copping has agreed with the Council for the sale to the Council for the sum of Two Thousand Pounds of the hereditaments hereby assured in fee simple in possession free from incumbrances Now This Indenture witnesseth that in pursuance of the said recited agreement and in consideration of the sum of Two thousand pounds now paid by the Council to the said William Copping the receipt whereof the said William Copping doth hereby acknowledge the said William Copping as Beneficial Owner doth hereby grant unto the Council all that piece or parcel of land of irregular shape lying between Queens Road and Pierremont Avenue in the parish of St Peter’s Broadstairs in the County of Kent and forming part of the said Pierremont Park Estate and containing according to a recent measurement three acres and one rood or thereabouts with all greenhouses sheds and other buildings whether temporary or otherwise now standing and being on the said piece or parcel of land which said piece or parcel of land with its dimension and curtilage is more particularly delineated and described in the plan drawn in the margin of these presents and therein coloured pink.
To Hold the same premises unto and to the use of the Council their successors and assigns in fee simple and discharged from the herebefore recited licences conferring rights of user of the said ornamental grounds forming part of the hereditaments herebefore assured but subject as to such part thereof informing as are affected thereby the payment of a yearly charge of five shillings to the Churchwardens of the Parish of St Peter and of a yearly payment of One Shilling and three pence to the Lord of the Manor of Minster Isle of Thanet.
And the Council for themselves and their successors and assigns hereby covenant with the said William Copping his heirs and assigns that they the Council their successors and assigns will maintain the hereditaments here before assured as and for the purpose of public walks and pleasure grounds under the provisions of the Public Health Acts and the Broadstairs and St Peters Water and Improvement Act 1901 and the Broadstairs and St Peters Urban District Council Act 1913 and will use the hereditaments herebefore assured for no other purpose and will not build thereon any building save and except concert halls, winter gardens, bandstands Pavilion Assembly Rooms Reading Rooms Baths Conservatories Refreshment Rooms Museums Shelters and other buildings and erections necessary in connection therewith and with the use of the hereditaments herebefore assured for the purpose aforesaid but no building thereon shall be used for the sale of intoxicating liquor.
Provided always that the right to enforce the covenant lastly hereinbefore confirmed and shall not pass with any part of the said Pierremont Park Estate less than the whole interest for the time being of the said William Copping in the said Estate.
And the said William Copping hereby acknowledges the right of the Council to the production of the documents mentioned in the schedule hereto and to delivery of copies thereof and hereby undertakes with the Council for the safe custody of the same documents In witness whereof the said William Copping has
hereunto set his hand and seal and the Council have caused their Common Seal to be hereunto affixed the day and year fast above written.”
So what does all that mean in the context of today? Is it still legally enforceable (assuming it means what you wantmit to) and is anyone going to put the money up to foght tdc in court? Because if they are not then it’s no more than a bit of outrage and bluster.
Tdc don’t care they just want the money, there is no real practical use for the land nor the money to turn it into someones vision.
Yes it will be an asset lost and the money will just be lost to the current councils disastrous budget. IIRC the budget included needing to sell off assets to the tune of 1.6 million to balance it out, let’s see what comes up nect in the tdc firesale.
How sad and pathetic
It probably wouldn’t cost the earth to get an injunction against any development/ works commencing on the site if the above is reviewed and approved by a decent solicitor. Plus use the access road as a potential angle to prevent certain works taking placing or at least making very difficult would help, get the HSE all over it, that’ll raise intangible development cost significantly. It feels massively dodgy that we’re not being told who bought it. NOTHING the council say or should be withheld from the public that they serve, whether you phone them or request information they don’t like they don’t come across like servants should.