Surrey Police submits application for redevelopment

Surrey Police has submitted its planning applications for the redevelopment of Mount Browne, its headquarters in Guildford.

Mount Browne, set on the outskirts of Guildford has been the headquarters of Surrey Police for over 70-years, and in November 2021 the decision was taken to retain and redevelop the site as the headquarters for the Force for future generations.

Mount Browne is also a key centre of excellence for our operational training and houses a lot of important operational commands. Its redevelopment will transform the ageing estate, making it truly operational and fit for purpose for years to come, and importantly, not only contribute to the health, safety, and well-being of staff, ensuring the Force retains its best officers and staff, but also provide the capability to effectively train, develop, and resource them throughout their careers serving the public.

Surrey Police and its design team have worked closely with key stakeholders in the community including Surrey County Council Highways and Guildford Borough Council to create a masterplan for the estate which is fit for purpose and meets the needs of policing our communities in the 21^st Century, as well as being far more sustainable and efficient, both financially and environmentally.

These planning applications follow a public consultation exercise held in August of 2023 when local community groups, businesses, and residents, living within a 2.5 km radius of Mount Browne, were invited to view the plans and ask questions. Plans for a new access road onto the site, relieving traffic in the neighbouring residential areas, received overwhelming support during this process. 

Following the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in the construction of Reigate Police Station, which necessitated the immediate relocation of some of the teams to other police sites, the decision was made to delay the planning application to conduct a thorough investigation of other Surrey Police buildings to determine any further presence of RAAC. No evidence of RAAC was found following this investigation.

Surrey Police Deputy Chief Constable, Nev Kemp said: “The redevelopment of Mount Browne is a critical part of our Estates Strategy which will help us in our drive to deliver the best policing service possible, by ensuring our people are in the right locations and in buildings that are fit for purpose.

“Mount Browne is not simply a headquarters; it is the focal point for large-scale operation planning; from where our officers and staff can be deployed to emergency incidents; and where new recruits begin their careers in the world of policing. This is particularly important as we need to attract and retain the best people to uphold the high level of services we provide the residents in our communities, keeping them safe and ensuring Surrey is the safest county it can be. We need fit for purpose facilities and technology which support our operational activity, not just now, but for many more years to come.”  

New site features

Feedback from the Force’s consultation with the local residents and planners has been incorporated into the application which, if approved, will see ageing accommodation blocks replaced with a new Contact & Deployment centre; up-to-date facilities for the dog school, including accommodation for students, and kennels for the dogs; a decked car park with an increased number of disabled bays, electric vehicle charging points, and secure bicycle storage racks allowing precious, ancient woodland to be restored to its original state.

The historic Old House is part of our heritage and is to be retained with a new Courtyard wing providing agile work-spaces to encourage collaborative working and well-being; while building facades, throughout the site, will reflect the surrounding areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Sustainability is a high priority for Surrey Police, and a sustainable travel policy will be both encouraged and promoted internally among staff and officers. Aged systems will be replaced with modern solutions, and environmentally friendly and sustainable features will be introduced throughout the estate including solar panels and grey-water recycling. We are committed to meeting targets to become Carbon Zero by 2050.

Surrey residents are encouraged to engage with these planning applications which can be viewed on the Guildford Borough Council website, via the planning portal.