Walsall Police Station will almost certainly move after it emerged that the building lies in the way of a major office development earmarked for the town.
Alternatives to Green Lane, where the station has been since the 1960s, are being looked at by the police authority and the council but so far no announcement has been made about its future.
It is almost inevitable the station will eventually relocate after it was mentioned in a heritage assessment document submitted as part of a planning application for a proposed office corridor in the town.
It states: “The catalyst for the office proposals is a data centre to be located adjacent to the railway. Most of the existing buildings in the study area are to be cleared and in some cases, for instance the police station, relocated.”
No details of the buildings which would be knocked down to make way for the development have been released although most of the site is earmarked for land which is currently derelict.
The plans, which are currently awaiting planning approval, will see a section of the town centre, near Littleton Street, transformed into a hi-tech office development, with some of the fastest broadband speeds in the world. As part of the plans a new railway station, health and sports club, shops and restaurants would also be built on the land near to the new Walsall College.
Michael Tichford, Walsall Council’s assistant director for regeneration, said discussions are continuing with West Midlands Police about finding a new base for the police station.
Senior councillors have previously said the authority is keen to relocate the station because it is on a major junction due to be widened to make way for the ring road, which is due to be completed later in the year. However, it appears unlikely a new base will be found in time.
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