Surrey Police will seek to relocate its Eastern Divisional Headquarters from Reigate to Leatherhead, when the interim lease for Wray Park ends, following the temporary move in April 2024.
In 2018, Surrey Police purchased the former Electrical Research Association (ERA) and Cobham Industries site on Cleeve Road in Leatherhead with a view to developing a new, purpose-built headquarters from the ground up. However, following a review of the programme in November 2021, the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Surrey Police Chief Officer team took the decision to retain Mount Browne, in Guildford, as the Force Headquarters, and redevelop the existing site.
The Leatherhead site has been on the commercial property market for sale since earlier last year. However, following the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in the construction of Reigate Police Station in September 2023, the Force has been reconsidering its wider operational requirements across the Eastern Division – comprising Reigate & Banstead, Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley, and Tandridge.
The Force relocated to the former Surrey Fire & Rescue Services (SFRS) headquarters at Wray Park, Reigate, on an urgent but temporary basis, agreeing a short-term lease of up to two years with Surrey County Council.
Since vacating Reigate Police Station, the Force has been working closely with commercial surveyors, Vail Williams, to explore numerous opportunities to locate the new Divisional HQ, including sites in Epsom, Dorking, Leatherhead, Reigate (including the redevelopment of Reigate Police Station itself) and Redhill.
Following this piece of work an operational recommendation was made to the Surrey Police Estates Board, chaired by Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, to retain part of the Leatherhead site and to build a bespoke, permanent, Divisional Headquarters which will be fit for policing East Surrey now and in the long-term.
This recommendation was approved on 06 August 2024 at the Estates Strategy Board.
Tim De Meyer, Chief Constable for Surrey Police, said, “The desired move to Leatherhead shows our commitment to retain an operational base in the heart of the East of Surrey where we can maintain a visible policing presence in the communities we serve, to fight crime and protect people.
“This is an opportunity to build a new divisional headquarters which will be operationally fit for purpose and serve the east of our county for many years to come.”
Lisa Townsend, Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, said, “This is exciting news and if we get planning approval gives us a unique opportunity to build a bespoke divisional HQ that is fit for purpose for our hard-working police teams on the east of the county.
“The situation with RAAC at Reigate Police Station has presented us with some difficult and unexpected challenges and I would like to pay tribute to all those officers, staff and volunteers for their patience and understanding over the last year.
“I am well aware of the importance Surrey residents place on local policing, and I want to reassure people living in Reigate and Banstead that the neighbourhood presence in their communities will not be affected by these plans.
“There have been some tough choices to make but I believe that Leatherhead presents us with the best option in providing both value for money for Surrey residents and an Eastern HQ that is fit for a modern police force.”
Councillor Paul Kennedy, Mole Valley District Council’s Cabinet Member for Internal Services and Security, said: “We are delighted at the prospect of Surrey Police’s Eastern Divisional Headquarters moving to Leatherhead. While any proposals remain subject to planning permission, this potentially signals yet another boost to the town, alongside the progress of our Transform Leatherhead initiative. With the addition of an HQ and around 400 members of staff comes the promise of a boost in footfall into the town centre and a positive impact on the local economy.”
As part of the Force’s commitment to having a physical policing presence in every borough and district, further decisions were made at the Estates Strategy Board to ensure that Safer Neighbourhood Teams will operate out of new sites, to be identified, in Epsom & Ewell, Reigate & Banstead, and Tandridge. This will ensure the delivery of a consistent service, and coverage across the county. There will be a minimum of one Front Counter facility per division, enabling members of the public to access police services. While locations will be reviewed, there will be no fewer than currently provided, and therefore no reduction in service.
The decision to retain Leatherhead as a key operating base comes as Surrey Police awaits a decision on their planning application for the redevelopment of the Mount Browne HQ which, if approved, could see redevelopment begin in Spring 2025.
An FAQ page containing answers to some of the questions we’ve received about the decision to relocate the Surrey Police Eastern Divisional HQ can be viewed here.