November 29, 2019 5.13 pm This story is over 52 months old

Lincoln ‘Ryvita building’ police station’s future needs to be “more creative than student housing”

It’s an “important site” for Lincoln said Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner
The former Lincoln Police Station on West Parade. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The future of Lincoln’s Ryvita building needs to be “more creative than student accommodation”, according to Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones.

Investors are set to report back on their ideas for the now-former West Parade Police Station before Christmas.

Officers moved out of the building earlier this month and into the Blue Light Hub on South Park along with crews from fire and ambulance.

Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones. Photo: Steve Smailes for the Lincolnite/Lincolnshire Reporter

Mr Jones said the building was “a key site” in Lincoln.

In response to suggestions it could become student accommodation he said: “I’m certainly not against students having somewhere to live, but my initial thoughts on that are that it’s a very important site and we need to look more creatively than that really.”

Lincoln Police Station on West Parade. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

He added: “I don’t want a big empty building sat there for the next three years either.

“It’s public money, we absolutely need to do something meaningful with the building, and my intention is to be as creative as possible to help shape place.

“It’s a key part of Lincoln city centre, and I absolutely want to do the best for the city with it.”

The building, which belongs to the office of the Lincolnshire Police Crime Commissioner, was constructed in January 1973 before Lincolnshire Police moved in in the mid 1970s.

Investors in Lincoln, the group exploring the site’s future, was established in 1991 by the City of Lincoln Council to bring major companies together and stimulate positive developments in the area.

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