Plans have been revealed to build a brand new police station in Southport.
The existing police station, on Albert Road, will be marketed and sold off.
Ainsdale Police Station, which has been closed since 2014, is also set to be sold.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner and Chief Constable are unveiling a refreshed 12-year plan to continue the transformation of the force’s stations and buildings focused on ensuring the organisation is fit to fight crime, now and into the future.
The Estate Strategy 2023-2035 will continue the work to modernise and update Merseyside Police’s stations and facilities to ensure officers and staff are in the right places and best equipped to serve communities across the region.
The current strategy in relation to Southport is to build a new police station, scheduled for 2027-28.
Once complete, Merseyside Police will market the existing station.
As this is still a number of years off, a new site has not yet been identified.
Merseyside Police will issue updates as and when anything is approved.
Southport is one of two areas in Merseyside where a brand new police station will be built, with the other in Newton-le-Willows.
Southport Police Station
Over the next 12 years, the Force says it is “determined to continue investing in accessible, agile, efficient buildings and stations that will make our organisation more sustainable and provide a real and dynamic police presence right on the doorstep of our communities.”
This will also include:
- The reopening of St Anne Street – Merseyside Police’s busiest operational station creating a ‘campus’ style site alongside Rose Hill.
Three major new police hubs for:
- St Helens
- Wirral
- Knowsley
Various levels of refurbishment at:
- Speke Police Station,
- Marsh Lane Police Station, Bootle
- Crosby Police Station,
- Lower Lane Police Station
- Admiral Street Police Station
- Walton Lane Police Station
- Tuebrook Police Station
- Wavertree Police Station
- Belle Vale Police Station
- Stanley Road Police Station
- Copy Lane Police Station, Netherton
This extensive programme of work will also enable 11 old, outdated buildings to be sold – generating more than £21.6 million to help deliver this work plus a further £2.4 million of recurring savings to be made
During the next 12 years, more than £21.6 million is expected to be recouped from the sale of 11 old and unused stations, including Merseyside Police’s former headquarters in Canning Place in Liverpool city centre which is due to go on the market shortly.
It also includes the sale of stations on Smithdown Lane and in Bromborough, Maghull and Ainsdale.
Ainsdale Police Station in Southport
By selling outdated buildings that are no longer fit for purpose and replacing them with state-of-the-art new stations, it is anticipated that a further £2.37 million will be saved on the annual cost of running the police estate – helping to protect police officer posts.
Nearly £589,000 a year is already being saved on the organisation’s running costs following the move from Canning Place and another office in Brunswick Dock to Merseyside Police’s state-of-the art new headquarters, Rose Hill, which officially opened for business in October 2021, with a further £140,000 being saved thanks to the reduced cost of running the Operational Command Centre in Speke.
The refreshed strategy will also help the drive to make Merseyside Police the most sustainable force in the country. In the past eight years, the organisation has already reduced its carbon reduction by 39%, saved £128,000 by fitting solar panels and a further £200,000 by embedding a reuse policy.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:
“We are determined to ensure Merseyside Police is fit to fight crime now and into the future.
“To do that, it’s vital we provide state-of-the-art stations and facilities for our officers and staff to put them in the best position to serve our communities.
“This ambitious plan is designed to build on the hugely positive work of the last eight years which has seen our fantastic new headquarters, Rose Hill, open for business, as well as the very effective Operational Command Centre in Speke and a major new patrol hub on Edge Lane. There’s also been major refurbishments of Bebington, Mather Avenue and Halewood Stations.
“All these projects are already making a huge difference – saving money, ensuring we are more sustainable, and equipping officers and staff with the right working environment to best serve our communities.
“Crime doesn’t standstill though, so nor can we. This bold strategy sets out how we will continue to transform our estate, creating better, brighter, greener spaces for our staff which will enable them to flourish and support my priority of delivering Proactive Policing for the people of Merseyside for many years to come.”
Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said:
“The communities of Merseyside should expect to receive the highest quality of service from Merseyside Police.
“In order to have the most efficient police force it is vital that our officers and staff can work in buildings that are fit for purpose and suitable for policing in the 21st century.
“This ongoing investment in our estate means that we can continue to deliver a cost effective and high quality service while supporting the wellbeing of all our officers and staff.
“Merseyside Police remain committed to putting the communities of Merseyside at the heart of everything we do.”
Merseyside Police’s estate currently consists of 74 buildings, two of which were built pre-1920 and nine which opened their doors before 1945. Many of these ageing buildings are inefficient and expensive to maintain and major repairs are required to ensure they are effective and efficient.
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrownn@gmail.com
