THE HEADQUARTERS of one Somerset council has gone up in value – but most of the building remains empty.

Taunton Deane Borough Council recently completed a £6.7M refurbishment of its Deane House base on Belvedere Road in Taunton, which was staggered over a period of 16 months.

The buildings will serve as joint headquarters for the new Somerset West and Taunton Council, which will officially take control on April 1, and is also being used by Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

Taunton Deane leader John Williams has confirmed the value of the building has increased substantially since its previous valuation.

However, he admitted that large amounts of the building had not yet been let, despite strong efforts to market the space to potential local tenants.

Councillor Jefferson Horsley took Mr Williams to task on the matter at the authority’s final full council meeting on Wednesday evening (March 20).

He said: “Could he give us some inkling as to how much income per annum we are foregoing by not having found tenants for the ground and first floor spaces?

“Have we secured tenants for the second floor, and if so who are they and when do they expect to take up residence?”

Mr Williams declined to go into detail during the public session, citing commercial sensitivity, but assured Mr Horsley he would “find out what we can share with you and write to you.”

He added: “We have let roughly one-third of the space to the police, which is immediately cutting our costs.

“We do not have any other tenants signed up at the moment, but we are in serious discussions at the moment with another client.

“There is some space remaining on the ground floor, and the complete second floor.”

The police moved into Deane House in December 2018, with police and crime commissioner Sue Mountstevens describing the new facility as a “open, bright and welcoming” for the former Taunton police station on Shuttern.

She added at the time: ” Co-locating and joining our partners not only ensures value for money for residents and taxpayers, it is also more convenient for local people by offering multiple services in one place.”

Mr Williams said in a written report to the full council that the value of Deane House had risen as a result of the work carried out.

He said: “Following the completion of the refurbishment, Deane House has been valued at £6M based on the works completed, and £9.5M based on works completed and [the building being] fully let.

“The previous valuation from South West One a few years ago was £2.5M.”

He added efforts to market the remaining spaces were continuing at pace, citing “detailed conversations” with several potential clients.

He said: “We continue to market the available space on the ground and first floors with Lambert Smith Hampton, and in addition to this we are also appointing a well-established local agent too.

“We are continuing to have detailed conversations with potential tenants, but at this time we do not have any firm commitment to report.”

The two existing councils stated in July 2018 that no decision had been taken to sell off either of their existing headquarters once the new council had officially come into being.

A joint spokesperson said: “Any decision on the future of Deane House or West Somerset House will be for the new council to take.

“No decision has been made to sell off either building.”