Backing urged for police HQ at former greyhound stadium site

COUNCILLORS will be asked to back plans for a new divisional police headquarters in Leeds when they meet this week.

They will be asked to consider outline plans for a new base at the former greyhound stadium at Elland Road, Leeds.

West Yorkshire Police envisage that 509 people will be based at the new HQ, which will include a 40 cell custody suite, offices and storage areas, a helpdesk and bring several teams together under one roof.

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Members of Leeds City Council's Plans Panel East will meet tomorrow to discuss the proposal.

A report to members of the committee says: "This is an outline application for a new divisional police head quarters to replace existing Milgarth and Holbeck stations at the site of the former greyhound stadium on Elland Road."

It adds: "The application site is 3.24 hectares in size and consists of the former Greyhound Stadium on Elland Road.

"The site is currently vacant, but it is understood that it is currently used for match day parking in connection with Leeds United Football Club to the north-east of the site."

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When the application was last before members they raised concerns about the impact of taking away a site that is currently used for parking on match days.

However, members will be told when they meet that a travel plan now includes a contribution to traffic regulation orders on surrounding streets.

Other proposals have been drawn-up including encouraging more public transport use.

A report says: "The indicative layout includes a multi-storey car park to the western side of the site, towards the railway line.

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"The remaining buildings are a group of five buildings linked by a glazed atrium."

As well as the multi-storey car park, there would also be some surface parking required for the building. The main vehicle access to the site will be off Elland Road.

Officers are recommending that councillors should back the proposals when they meet.

If they are supportive, the final say will be given to the chief planning officer, subject to a legal agreement being made with West Yorkshire Police, to cover things such as traffic regulations and measures.

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The report to members of the planning committee concludes: "This outline application is therefore recommended for approval and members are asked to defer and delegate approval of the application to the chief planning officer."

In March the Government backed proposals to create new divisional headquarters for West Yorkshire Police in Leeds and Normanton.

Ministers announced a rebuilding programme had won 216m in credits under the Government's Private Finance Initiative (PFI) providing new divisional headquarters and custody accommodation, as well as a specialist training facility. The plans involve sites at the former greyhound stadium at Elland Road, Leeds, and Havertop Lane, Normanton.

A new operational training centre will be located on a site at Carr Gate, Wakefield, and will include firearms training ranges, driver training and public order training facilities.

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The Minister for Policing and Crime, David Hanson, said at the time: "I am pleased to support the 216m rebuilding project in West Yorkshire, which will help police produce even better work for the people of the county.

"The force is determined to use these new facilities to provide a further boost to neighbourhood policing, which is vital in cracking down on the crimes that matter most to local people and in boosting community confidence in the police."