Go-ahead for Harrogate police station plan
- Published
The force said the North Park Road building was "old and outdated" and too costly to run
Plans for a multimillion-pound North Yorkshire Police base in Harrogate have been approved.
The force is replacing the town's 1930s station on North Park Road with a new facility on Beckwith Knowle.
The building, approved by Harrogate Borough Council's planning committee, will provide a base for about 200 officers and a 16-cell custody suite.
Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell said the new station would benefit Harrogate residents "for many years to come".
Mr Maxwell thanked North Yorkshire Police Authority for the financial backing for the project.
He said: "Many people will rightly question why we are spending such a substantial amount of money in light of government funding cuts.
"The reality is the existing station would cost over half the amount of the new build just to repair and would only give us another 10 years' service, after which we would need to think again about relocating.
"The cost of running such an old and outdated property is also much higher.
"A new station provides the taxpayer with the most cost-effective long-term solution and will provide an effective policing base in Harrogate for many years to come."