Residents invited to have say on new police HQ

Surrey Police will soon open a public consultation into plans for its new divisional headquarters in Leatherhead.

The force's eastern divisional headquarters has been temporarily operating from Wray Park since April, after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) was found at Reigate police station.

People living around the new site in Cleeve Road, Leatherhead, can have their say on the plans when they are revealed at a consultation at the nearby Police Federation HQ later this month.

A planning application will then go before Mole Valley District Council before the force can move in.

Surrey Police's main headquarters has been at Mount Brown, in Guildford, for more than 70 years.

In 2018, the force bought the Leatherhead site and planned to move the headquarters there.

But following a review in 2021, the decision was made to stay at Mount Browne, so the Leatherhead site was put on the market.

Surrey Police then announced it would keep part of the Leatherhead site to use for the Eastern Division.

The force said the new location was within easy reach of the major road links for the county.

In a statement, it said: "The force has been considering various options for a new location for the divisional headquarters, which will serve the boroughs and districts of Reigate & Banstead, Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley and Tandridge.

"We have looked at sites, at all times considering how each one would ensure we can deliver the best possible service to you, our communities, both now and in the future."

An in-person consultation will run from 16:00 until 19:00 GMT on 28 November at Police Federation HQ in Highbury Drive, Leatherhead.

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