Hampshire Police Authority yesterday (Tuesday 20 July) agreed to put on hold plans to build a new Hampshire Constabulary headquarters in Chandlers Ford to replace the current HQ in West Hill, Winchester because of Government spending cuts.

In February this year, members of the police authority – which sets the budget for policing services in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – decided to push ahead with plans for a £40 million new building at Alpha Park, which was purchased for £9.2 million in 2008.

However, in view of the significant reductions announced in public sector funding, the HPA decided to take another look at the plans to see if there were any alternatives, including exploring a potential new site.
¬we have to make tough but pragmatic budgetary decisions which will enable us to make the savings required of us¬
Members decided unanimously to put plans for Alpha Park on hold at this time, pending the outcome of Hampshire Constabulary’s estates review which is expected by November this year.

Cllr Jacqui Rayment, chair of the police authority said: “When we made the decision to proceed with Alpha Park a few months ago, we were in a very different financial climate to the one we find ourselves in today.

“Given the scale of the cut backs, we need to review the decision we made in February as a result of government spending cuts of 25% over four years. We have already considered a wide range of sites to replace the inadequate accommodation at West Hill, a 1960s building which is very expensive to run and does not meet modern standards.

“We will keep the site at Alpha Park, but have decided at this time not to proceed with the new building while we explore other, more cost effective options.”

Chief Constable Alex Marshall said: “In light of the current difficult financial conditions faced by the constabulary and public sector organisations across the country, we have to make tough but pragmatic budgetary decisions which will enable us to make the savings required of us, but protect frontline policing.

“Our priority has to be in protecting the communities of the two counties, catching criminals, and ensuring we have a visible and active presence in every neighbourhood, and so we are reviewing our systems and structure across the force to find efficiencies whilst maintaining our strength in these vital areas.

“Reviewing our estates strategy including the move to Alpha Park has to be part of that. It was purchased two years ago and since Hampshire Police Authority chose the new-build option in February this year, the whole financial environment we operate in has changed.

“This decision is a sensible step. We await the final decision of the police authority after the full details of the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review are known in October.”