Northamptonshire Police headquarters sale considered

A public consultation is taking place on new plans for the estates of Northamptonshire Police, which includes a proposal to move from its HQ at Wootton Hall Park

Northamptonshire Police's headquarters could be sold as part of proposals aimed at saving £40m.

Police and Crime Commissioner Adam Simmonds is consulting on the plans for the Wootton Hall Park site in Northampton.

Two new police buildings are proposed for the north of the county, but a central base may not be needed, said Mr Simmonds.

The proposals could see the present police HQ turned into a school.

The Conservative PCC has published his estates strategy document looking at the use of police property over the next 25 years.

PCC Adam Simmonds was elected in May 2012

Proposals for the future of the Wootton Hall Park site - jointly owned by the Office of the PCC and Northamptonshire County Council - provisionally include the sale of part of the site to the Education Funding Agency for the creation of a new school.

The sale of the site would raise an estimated £8m.

The draft strategy also proposes that a new Police Investigation Centre providing custody provision for the north of the county be built in the Kettering/Corby police district and a further building nearby.

Further talks are also planned between Northamptonshire Police and the PCCs of Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire around shared services as part of their commitment to a strategic alliance.

Mr Simmonds said: "The move away from Wootton Hall will see us consider multiple locations for a number of smaller bases, meaning the force can be more visible, contactable and mobile to residents of the whole of Northamptonshire, not just those in the immediate vicinity of the current site."

Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police Simon Edens said:"I am not satisfied that all of our current buildings are fit for purpose so I am pleased to see the launch of this consultation on the PCC's draft estates strategy."

Consultation ends on 7 February.