THE SALE of the former South Gloucestershire Council office buildings in Thornbury has moved a step forward as a retirement home developer has stated it intends to convert the site into new affordable flats.

A South Gloucestershire Council spokesman has confirmed to the Gazette that contracts have been exchanged with Churchill Retirement Living, with subsequent plans for the Castle Street property being subject to planning permission.

Churchill Retirement Living, who developed housing on the old Thornbury police station site on Rock Street, has also confirmed its intentions to develop the site.

“We are preparing plans for the site, which will be our second development in Thornbury,” said Andrew Burgess, planning director of Churchill Retirement Living.

“We will be consulting the local community and councillors with our plans at a public exhibition in Thornbury and welcome anyone who is interested.

“The consultation will be taking place on 10th December at the Cossham Hall from 5-7pm.”

The proposed amount offered for the property has not yet been disclosed.

The Thornbury offices were built 1986 and were used by South Gloucestershire Council until they relocated to premises in Kingswood and Yate, with the site being vacated by the majority of council staff in 2013.

The premises has since been occupied by a small number of IT staff and occasionally by Democratic Services for elections-related purposes, with remaining IT and generator equipment being gradually moved out throughout this period.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary have also been occupying part of the building as a Thornbury police base over the last two years, with the force now planning to relocate behind Thornbury Town Hall.

The whole building was occupied by the police for several weeks in 2014 during the NATO summit.

The Gazette has been informed that anyone who wishes to find more about the consultation will soon be able to at Churchill’s website and Anyone who is unable to attend the exhibition will be able to provide online feedback through churchillretirement.co.uk/planning/feedback-form/