Surrey Police announces new £20m HQ plans
21 March 2019
Surrey Police is on the move.
The force has announced it will be creating a new headquarters and operational base in Leatherhead.
The premises will eventually replace the force’s current HQ at Mount Browne in Guildford which has been its home for the past 70 years.
The bases at Burpham and Godstone, where the Roads Policing Team and Tactical Firearms Unit are based, will also be moved to the 10-acre site at the former Electrical Research Association (ERA) and Cobham Industries works on Cleeve Road.
The move offers the force a more central location in the county, the PCC’s office has said and that it would provide officers and staff with an improved working environment.
PCC David Munro said: “This is really exciting news and heralds the start of a new chapter in the proud history of Surrey Police.
“The search for a new site has been long and complex so I am delighted we have now completed the deal and can start making detailed plans.
“The most important factor for me is that we provide value for money and deliver an even better service to the public. We have looked carefully at the budget for the project and even taking into account the inevitable relocation costs involved, I am satisfied this investment will provide savings in the long-term.
“A police force’s most valuable asset is, of course, the officers and staff that work around the clock to keep our county safe and this move will provide them with a much better working environment and support.”
The new £20.5m HQ will also replace Woking Police Station and Reigate Police Station as the main Eastern divisional base. Neighbourhood Policing Teams will continue to operate from all eleven boroughs including Woking and Reigate.
The sale of the five sites will fund a 'significant proportion' of the cost of buying and developing the new base which the force will be fully operational in around four to five years’ time.
“I am well aware of the value Surrey residents place on local policing and I want to reassure people living in Woking and Reigate that our local neighbourhood presence in those communities will not be affected by these plans,” Mr Munro added.
“Whilst the announcement of this deal marks an important milestone, the real hard work starts now.”
Surrey’s Police Temporary Chief Constable Gavin Stephens is backing the move. He said: “A state-of-the-art operational base and HQ will enable us to better meet the challenges of modern policing, allow us to be innovative and ultimately provide an even better policing service for the Surrey public.
“Surrey Police has ambitious plans for the future and we’re investing in our people by providing the right training, technology and working environment to meet modern policing challenges.
“Our existing sites are expensive to run and restrict the way we work. Over the coming years we’ll provide our teams with workplaces they can be proud of.
“Our changes in location will not alter how we respond to, work with, and consider ourselves a part of, Surrey’s many communities. These plans reflect our ambition to be an outstanding force and our commitment to providing high quality policing in the heart of our communities.”
