AFTER more than forty years in the same site, Gwent Police is set to move to a new ‘purpose-built’ headquarters.

Currently based in Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran, the move will see the force relocate to site in Llantarnam, also in Cwmbran, from 2019 - with £16 million allocated in funding.

The news comes as part of a review of the police estate across the region, by its police and crime commissioner (PCC).

Its aim is to ensure that all police buildings and properties are ‘fit for the demands of modern policing’, as well as delivering a citizen focused service.

PCC Jeff Cuthbert said the current police headquarters is “of an age where expensive repairs and maintenance work are urgent and are no longer financially viable”.

“The current HQ would require around £19m investment to maintain and modernise to current environmental standards and has associated high running costs relating to additional property rental requirements,” he added.

“The new HQ has been allocated funding of £16m for design, build and transitional arrangements – £3m less than the expense of renovating the current HQ site.”

Mr Cuthbert also said the new site will be “50 per cent cheaper to run” and will “save money for taxpayers in the long run”.

As part of the review, the PCC also highlighted the role partnership working will play in providing a ‘unified approach to public service provision that delivers value for money’.

As evidence of this, he highlighted the success of retaining a police presence in Abertillery by sharing accommodation with the Welsh Ambulance Service and South Wales Fire and Rescue crews.

He also outlined plans to move to a ‘hub’ model of policing, with services in ‘close proximity to road and digital infrastructure that enable rapid response to mitigate threat, harm and risk to our communities’.

Mr Cuthbert said: “We need to ensure that our estate delivers value for money by ensuring that all of our buildings are sustainable in every way possible. The time is right for us to begin the process of moving to a new HQ and to ensure the wider estate is fit for future purpose.

“In providing an effective service, I am committed to ensuring the estate represents the needs of the communities we serve in a cost effective way.

“I also want it to reflect the evolution of digital policing and the interaction between the police service and its partners.”

The chief constable of Gwent Police Julian Williams said: “The nature of policing is changing as is the nature of criminality and we must evolve our service accordingly. We have a group of passionate, dedicated police officers and staff in Gwent who are committed to protecting and reassuring communities.”

The Estate review will be on a phased basis across the five local authority areas in Gwent, and will run over a period of ten years.