Yeovil police station refurbishment to begin this summer
We can have a look at the plans at an event next month
The long-awaited refurbishment of Yeovil police station will finally begin this summer – with residents being able to view the plans up close and personal in a couple of weeks.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary announced its intention in 2018 to replace the Horsey Lane facility with a brand new station, with South Somerset District Council approving plans for the £6.2m revamp.
Construction on this new station never began, with the force blaming Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic for the delays and formally scrapping the plans in April 2023 in favour of refurbishing the existing station – after £1.3m had already been spent on the project.
The force has now confirmed work on refurbishing the current station will finally begin this summer, with the building expected to return to full operational use by the autumn of 2026.
The old five-floor police station is currently completely empty, with a temporary enquiry office operating outside the front of the building between 8.00am and 8.00pm on weekdays and between 9.00am and 5.00pm on weekends.
Yeovil’s policing teams have been based temporarily in Somerset Council’s offices on Brympton Way for the last few years while the revised business case for the Horsey Lane site was developed and signed off.
The force has not confirmed how much the refurbishment will cost, but said it represented “a significant investment in policing in Yeovil” and would ensure its officers could “deliver a service the town and surrounding areas deserve for many years to come.”
As part of the refurbishment, a new vehicle workshop will replace the existing one so that the police vehicle fleet can be maintained locally.
A new external staircase will also need to be constructed for the station to comply with modern fire safety standards.
Neighbourhood Inspector Roseanna Green said: “Firstly, I would like to thank the community and our teams in Yeovil for their patience – as we know, this has been a long time coming, but the wait will be worth it.
“The station was in need of a complete overhaul, and while our temporary location at Brympton Way has allowed us to continue over the last few years, this refurbishment will give us a long-term home that is fit for purpose, enabling us to deliver an outstanding service for Yeovil and south Somerset.
“We also understand that during the refurbishment period there may be some disruption for those living nearby, but I can reassure you that the contractors will take every step possible to minimise the disruption.
“If you would like to find out more or have any questions, then do come along to our drop-in event on May 14 at Goldenstones Leisure Centre.”
The event will be held at the Brunswick Street site on between 3.30pm and 5.30pm on Tuesday 14th May.
Officers will continue to work from Brympton Way until the refurbishment has been completed, which is expected to take around 12 months, with the new station’s doors expected to open by autumn 2026.
During the project, the police enquiry office will remain open in the Portacabin on Horsey Lane for the first six months, with plans being explored for another temporary home for the rest of the works.