Planning chiefs are facing calls to turn a disused police station into a hostel for the homeless, after it was bought for more than £4 million to turn into housing.

South Bucks District Council (SBDC) bought Gerrards Cross Police Station, in Oxford Road, for £4,222,500 from its capital receipts reserve, earlier this year.

There are now calls for it to be turned into housing for the homeless, after the proposed acquisition of Grand Union House, in Iver, was knocked off the council’s agenda.

At an SBDC full council meeting, Cllr Ray Sangster, who represents the Iver Heath ward, asked the cabinet why turning the police station into a hostel for homeless people was not being considered.

He said: “The proposed acquisition of Grand Union House for a hostel for the homeless, at an asking price of £10 million, is now off our agenda.

“Pressure remains to secure such a location. As the Gerrard’s Cross Police Station cost half this amount why are we not considering converting this building into a hostel for the homeless?”

Cllr Paul Kelly, cabinet member for healthy communities, said the site currently houses eight homeless households to be accommodated while waiting for permanent housing and that the council was “seeking to deliver” temporary housing units for emergency housing.

He said: “The delivery of affordable housing in south Bucks is limited by the financial viability of the site. In response to the viability challenge, the council identified an opportunity to develop GX police station.

“To enable alternative provision for temporary housing, the council is seeking to deliver temporary housing units for emergency housing and increase the range of short-term and medium-term accommodation by working with our registered providers.”

A planning application will be made for the police station, with a project manager to be appointed to develop the design, planning approval and “business case” for the redevelopment which will see the current police station and ex-police houses knocked down on a “phased basis”.

The council’s capital receipts reserve comes from the sales of land and property assets it has sold in the past.