DORSET Police have said they hope to break ground on their new headquarters in mid-September.

An application to amend planning consent has been submitted to Dorset Council with a decision anticipated on July 20.

As a result the exact specifications of the proposals can’t be confirmed but the three-storey building will replace the existing police headquarters in Winfrith.

The force will remain in the area and the old HQ building will not be demolished prior to the new build.

Speaking at Dorset Council’s Police and Crime Panel, Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: “The plans submitted very clearly show that the footprint of the new building has been designed so that demolition of the existing building is not needed until after the construction has completed.

“This allows for the officers and staff currently working in the building, to continue to do so – without the need for temporary accommodation to be found at additional cost.”

Mr Sidwick said the estimated cost of the project, which had previously been raised, remained “commercially sensitive” until the awarding of contracts.

He said: “For avoidance of doubt, I can confirm that the question of cost remains commercially sensitive, but we will bring this to the public as soon as possible – we believe we will be able to do this by September.”

When asked to outline a timeframe for the headquarters replacement, Dorset Police said they were awaiting the decision on existing planning constraints - which will be made on July 20 - before advising their contractor of the final specification at which point they would receive and consider a final quote.

A spokesperson for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner said: “If all remains on track, we will award the contract in early September and break ground in mid-September.

The build will be complete in early 2024 at which point staff will decamp from the existing headquarters building and it will be demolished.”

As reported, the proposals were initially approved in March despite concerns from Wool parish that its shiny surfaces could lead to bird deaths as they attempt to fly though the surface into the landscape they see in the reflection.