Citing a freedom to information request as the source of the figures, the Law Society Gazette reports that 69 former court buildings are vacant and have no imminent prospect of being sold.
Since the December 2010 announcement by Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly that 142 courts would close to save money, it is understood that 121 have shut. However, according to the FoI request, £206,000 is still being spent each month to maintain some of them.
Stagnant market
Property experts who have reviewed the figures provided by HM Courts and Tribunals Service have warned that the buildings are unlikely to be attractive to buyers because of the high costs involved in refurbishment. They added that the stagnant market is also an issue.
So far, only five of the 121 closed buildings have been sold.
According to the courts service, 19 former courts have agreed terms, seven are involved in ‘serious negotiations, seven have agreed to surrender leases and 14 have been retained as planned. This leaves 69 buildings, which are apparently proving difficult to dispose of.
Complex nature
It is suggested that the complex nature of the shared ownership of the buildings, involving the police and local authorities, is causing the delay.
The government has estimated that £37m a year eventually will be saved through the closures.
Since the December 2010 announcement by Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly that 142 courts would close to save money, it is understood that 121 have shut. However, according to the FoI request, £206,000 is still being spent each month to maintain some of them.
Stagnant market
Property experts who have reviewed the figures provided by HM Courts and Tribunals Service have warned that the buildings are unlikely to be attractive to buyers because of the high costs involved in refurbishment. They added that the stagnant market is also an issue.
So far, only five of the 121 closed buildings have been sold.
According to the courts service, 19 former courts have agreed terms, seven are involved in ‘serious negotiations, seven have agreed to surrender leases and 14 have been retained as planned. This leaves 69 buildings, which are apparently proving difficult to dispose of.
Complex nature
It is suggested that the complex nature of the shared ownership of the buildings, involving the police and local authorities, is causing the delay.
The government has estimated that £37m a year eventually will be saved through the closures.
Email your news and story ideas to: [email protected]
