THE Assize Courts building in Northgate Street, Devizes, has been put up for auction with a guide price of over £1 million, despite being derelict for nearly 20 years.

Although the buildings have planning permission for conversion to 20 flats, many were surprised at the high price for a building that will require extensive work just to make it safe.

Peter Lay, chairman of Devizes Development Partnership, has been negotiating with the building's owner, Dubai-based property developer Sulaiman Dockrat.

He said he thought Mr Dockrat might be making the most of an upward movement in the property market to sell off the building, which he has owned for seven years.

"Property auctions are doing pretty well at the moment so he could well see this as an exit strategy for a situation he cannot otherwise get out of," Mr Lay said.

"If he could find someone prepared to pay that kind of money it could work for him, but I would be very surprised if it sells at that price."

A partnership including Kennet District Council, Devizes Town Council, the DDP, the Trust for Devizes, the Wiltshire Historic Buildings Trust and English Heritage has been discussing the future of the building. The possibility of a compulsory purchase order has been discussed.

The partnership will meet again tonight.

Jeff Ody, chairman of the Trust for Devizes, said: "He is either attempting to get a serious return on his investment or demonstrating market activity in case a compulsory purchase order is made.

"Even with planning permission, it is likely to be very difficult to sell the building at that price.

"What we don't know is the reserve, the lowest price Mr Dockrat will take."

The property is being auctioned by London-based estate agents Allsop and the sale will take place at the Cumberland Hotel in London on December 14. However, the agents admit: "The property was not internally inspected."

The building, which dates from 1835, has been extensively damaged by vandals. There have been fires, windows have been smashed and boarding torn away leaving the building open to the elements.

The courts were first put on the market in the mid-1980s.