Cleveland Police HQ plan funded by housing development

The new building would provide "significant savings in operating costs"

A planned new headquarters for Cleveland Police would be funded by housing development on the site of its current one.

The Ladgate Lane facility has been described as "not fit for purpose".

Cleveland Police Authority has been considering a number of sites, and has now earmarked one at Hemlington Grange.

The plans are discussed on Wednesday. If approved, a public consultation will be carried out, and the new building could be complete by 2013.

Councillor Dave McLuckie, who chairs Cleveland Police Authority, said: "I am sure people might ask how we could possibly afford the multimillion-pound cost of a new headquarters when we are facing unprecedented financial pressures.

"The answer lies in the sale of Ladgate Lane with approval for housing development, which should generate sufficient funds to meet the costs of both acquiring the site at Hemlington Grange and constructing the new building."

He added: "There is no doubt that the current headquarters is not fit for purpose.

"It has been our headquarters for the best part of 30 years, but it is now showing its age, is expensive to maintain and run, lacks the infrastructure for modern requirements-and is simply too big for our requirements now and in the future."

"As well as providing much improved and more efficient working conditions for staff, a new building would deliver very significant savings in operating costs, as much as £10m over 10 years compared with the costs of maintaining operations at Ladgate Lane."