Exmouth set for new police station

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall has submitted a proposal to build a new police station in Exmouth[1]. If councillors give the GBP5m plan the green light it will see the existing station, its disused custody block and a closed magistrates’ court on the corner of Clarence Road and North Street demolished and redeveloped. The new station would reintroduce an open Police Enquiry Office to the resort as part of the Commissioner’s commitment to reopen those closed to the public a decade ago.

Architects are proposing a new build which would be rebuilt to ‘excellent’ environmental standards, meaning it would be among the top 10% of buildings for efficient use of energy. The new build improves public access, the welfare provisions for officers and enhances the natural environment immediately around the new building, the application states. It will be more in keeping with the current conservation area’s requirements and will be on smaller footprint than the current police station, with the remainder of the site available for redevelopment.

A heritage assessment submitted alongside the planning application says: “The new building has been designed to respect the scale and form of the surrounding built environment whilst providing a durable and efficient police station. Two-storey in height, pitched roof with gables, and use of brick, continue the scale and architectural motifs present in the surrounding 19th Century residences. It will replace a set of buildings considered to be detrimental to the character and appearance of the conservation area.”

All buildings in the Devon and Cornwall Police estate are owned and managed by Commissioner Alison Hernandez, whose programme of reopening police station front desks will see 18 reopened, or opened for the first time, across Devon and Cornwall. She said: “Exmouth is a busy and bustling resort town which has a large resident population and a considerable increase in its population in the summer months. “The policing team in East Devon[2] do an incredible job while facing considerable challenges.

They are working from buildings which have served their purpose but which are nearing the end of their useful life and are not attractive. I am delighted to be able to bring forward this proposal to give the town a policing facility that is fit for the 21st Century and which police officers, staff, volunteers and residents of the town deserve.” Local Policing Superintendent Anthony Hart said: “The old station has been home to the local policing team for many years and served Exmouth well, but we’re looking forward to working from a modern building that’s better suited to the needs of our officers and the people of Exmouth.”

The Commissioner’s programme of improving the police estate has seen a state-of-the-art new facility, complete with custody centre, opened in Exeter[3] three years ago, a new police station opened in Barnstaple[4], North Devon[5], and a new station built in Liskeard. She has worked alongside local councillors and East Devon’s MP, Simon Jupp, to develop the plans. Mr Jupp said: “I am really pleased to see progress being made on Exmouth’s new multi-million-pound police station which will be open to the public with a dedicated front desk.

We now have record numbers of police officers which has seen the creation of a new dedicated team working to tackle rural crime, more officers on the beat when it matters most, and improved public accessibility by reopening the enquiry desk at Honiton[6] ‘s police station. I’m working closely with the Police & Crime Commissioner to help make our streets and countryside safer for local families and businesses.” The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is asking residents of the force area to take part in a survey on policing and community safety matters.

The survey can be completed online at dcpcc.commonplace.is[7] or by calling the office on 01392 225555.

References

1. ^ Exmouth (www.devonlive.com)
2. ^ East Devon (www.devonlive.com)
3. ^ Exeter (www.devonlive.com)
4. ^ Barnstaple (www.devonlive.com)
5. ^ North Devon (www.devonlive.com)
6. ^ Honiton (www.devonlive.com)
7. ^ dcpcc.commonplace.is (dcpcc.commonplace.is)