Progress continues on Yeovil Police Station refurbishment
Work continues on the multi-million-pound refurbishment of Yeovil Police Station at Horsey Lane, with the project remaining on track for completion in late 2027.
The investment will create a fit-for-purpose policing hub for Yeovil and South Somerset, providing an upgraded base for Patrol and Neighbourhood policing teams alongside specialist policing functions serving communities across the area.
As part of the project, construction is now underway on a new vehicle workshop. The purpose-built facility will provide upgraded facilities for servicing and repairs, allowing our fleet to be maintained locally, reduce downtime, and ensure police vehicles are available and ready for deployment.
Neighbourhood Inspector Rose Green said:
“People in Yeovil and south Somerset deserve policing facilities that are fit for the future, and it’s encouraging to see this investment continuing to take shape.
“Once complete, the refurbished station will provide a modern base for local policing teams and specialist resources, helping us work more effectively together in support of our communities.
“The new vehicle workshop will play an important role in that, enabling police vehicles to be maintained locally and reducing the time they are unavailable due to servicing and repairs.”
Police teams will continue to operate from Somerset Council’s offices at Brympton Way until the station at Horsey Lane reopens.
Frequently asked questions
When will the refurbished police station open?
Work is progressing well and we currently expect the station at Horsey Lane to reopen in late 2027.
What improvements are being made?
The refurbishment includes new mechanical and electrical systems, modernised internal spaces, space for training, improved welfare facilities for officers and staff, a modernised public enquiry office and a purpose-built police vehicle workshop.
How will this investment improve policing in Yeovil and the surrounding area?
The project will strengthen the policing resources available across Yeovil and South Somerset by providing an upgraded and fit-for-purpose base for our Patrol and Neighbourhood policing teams alongside specialist functions including Roads Policing, Firearms and police dogs – resources that are currently based in Bridgwater.
Having an additional base for these specialist teams in Yeovil will bring them closer to local communities, improving our ability to respond to incidents across the area.
Why isn’t the police investing in a custody suite in Yeovil?
Avon and Somerset Police operates its custody facilities as a force-wide resource in line with national guidance and standards, with custody provision concentrated in three dedicated centres – Bridgwater, Keynsham and Patchway – designed to meet modern safety standards for detainees, officers and staff.
The decision not to include a custody suite in the refurbished Yeovil Police Station was made in 2022 by the then Police and Crime Commissioner, following extensive operational and financial analysis.
Financial analysis undertaken as part of the Yeovil Police Station investment project found that a custody suite would incur significant additional capital cost, with construction estimated at around an extra £8.8 million, and annual staffing and operating costs of approximately £3.3 million.
Those annual costs would be broadly equivalent to the cost of around 77 Police Community Support Officers or 48 police constables.
While analysis considered officer time spent transporting detainees to existing custody facilities, the cost of building and operating a custody suite in Yeovil was considered too high compared to this abstraction of officer time.
Specialist equipment on site, such as a fingerprint scanner and breath-testing machines will reduce the need for some journeys to custody facilities. Meanwhile, a prisoner transport service operates on Thursday through to Sunday evenings to help protect officers’ time during peak demand periods.
Is the project environmentally sustainable?
The project reuses the existing building frame and construction materials, avoiding the demolition and rebuild of a new station on site. Sustainability has been an important consideration throughout the project, and Avon and Somerset Police successfully secured £140,000 of grant funding towards low-carbon technologies that will help heat and power the refurbished building and improve its environmental performance. There will also be significant investment to enable electric vehicle charging in the future.
Where can I contact the police while work is taking place?
The Yeovil public enquiry office is currently located at Somerset Council’s offices at Brympton Way and will remain there while refurbishment work is carried out.
Our neighbourhood officers continue to be out and about in the community. As well as visiting our enquiry office, you can also contact us by calling 101 or online at Contact us | Avon and Somerset Police
Always call 999 in an emergency.