A BUYER is still being sought for the former Bury Police Station 15 months after a sale deal collapsed.

In 2010, Bury police's headquarters in Irwell Street relocated to a brand new facility at Castlecroft Road, leaving the old site derelict.

Bury Council owns the site and had intended to sell it to a supermarket firm as part of an £8 million project.

However, that deal fell through in January last year when the supermarket chain "suddenly decided to scale back its expansion plans," according to the council's cabinet member dealing with the sale, Cllr Sandra Walmsley.

Cllr Walmsley added at the time that the council was "working up some exciting new proposals for the site" and would consult on them when viability studies were complete.

Fifteen months on, there looks to have been little progress.

A Bury Council spokesman said yesterday: "Unfortunately, the retail market has changed quickly and dramatically and there is now no demand from the retail sector to meet the original plan, which was for a large supermarket to take over the sites of the former police headquarters and the Castle Leisure Centre, with the proceeds going towards building a new leisure centre on top of the Q Park in Knowsley Street.

"However, we are still determined to fulfil the potential of the old police headquarters site, where the building is now nearing demolition.

"We will continue to work with our consultants Ask to bring forward a solution which will help regenerate the area."

Last April, The Bury Times reported how 'urban explorers' were trespassing on the site of the former police station to film videos of the decayed building.

It is anticipated that, once the site is fully cleared in the coming weeks. the council’s security costs for the site will fall.