Community feedback helps shape Southern Policing Hub plans

Community feedback is helping shape plans for a new Southern Policing Hub - with suggestions and concerns raised by residents and stakeholders informing the final stages of work ahead of the submission of an outline planning application.

The proposed hub location at Mitre Way, Old Sarum, will provide a modern, fit-for-purpose operational base for neighbourhood, response and specialist policing teams serving Salisbury and south of the county.

It will replace facilities at Bourne Hill which operational reviews in 2021 and 2023 concluded is no longer capable of meeting the demands of modern policing.

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson has published a summary of the key issues raised during June's public engagement programme and confirmed that concerns and suggestions from local people have already influenced the development of the proposals and the technical work supporting the application's submission.

More than a month of engagement saw residents, businesses, community groups, councillors and stakeholders review proposals, indicative designs, attend public events, speak directly with the Commissioner and Wiltshire Police representatives and submit feedback online and in person.

The feedback focused largely on the force being a ‘good neighbour’ with traffic and access, landscaping and screening, environmental impact, community amenity and custody provision discussed at length.

As a result, feedback from the engagement has been shared with the design team, highways specialists, environmental consultants and other technical advisers as preparations continue for the outline planning submission.

Particular attention is being given to issues raised around traffic impacts, boundary treatments, planting, landscaping, lighting and the relationship between the site and neighbouring homes.

Wiltshire PCC Philip Wilkinson said: "From the outset we said this would be engagement before decision-making - not engagement after decisions had already been made.

"People have told us what matters most to them. They have raised concerns about traffic, access, landscaping, lighting and the impact on neighbouring communities. Those views have not simply been noted. They have been shared directly with the project team and are helping to inform the plans that will be submitted.

"While an outline planning application does not deal with every detail of the final design, the feedback we have received is helping shape the technical assessments, future design work and the way we approach the next stages of the project.

“People have rightly asked questions about the long-term future of policing in Salisbury and south Wiltshire and it is very much our aim to ensure this proposal delivers against whatever the future policing landscape looks like.

"Those views have been shared with the wider project team and are helping inform the work that continues ahead of the planning application being submitted.

"Not everyone will agree with every aspect of the proposals but it is important that people can see their views have been heard and taken seriously.

"I want to thank everyone who took the time to engage with us. Whether they support the proposals or have concerns about them, their views are an important part of the planning process."

The engagement programme included three public events at Salisbury Football Club, attendance at Area Board meetings across south Wiltshire, a dedicated website, Community Messaging alerts, digital media activity and media engagement.

One of the strongest themes to emerge was local concern about custody provision in south Wiltshire.

Mr Wilkinson has acknowledged the strength of feeling expressed by residents and confirmed that all comments have been formally recorded and considered as part of the engagement process, while reiterating that there are currently no plans for a custody suite within the proposed development based on operational assessments and guidance by Wiltshire Police’s Chief Constable and her senior team.

Residents also raised a range of practical suggestions around biodiversity, sustainability measures and renewable energy opportunities. These comments will be considered alongside ecological, environmental and other technical studies as the scheme continues to develop.

Importantly, the engagement did not simply identify areas of concern.

Many residents recognised the need to replace ageing facilities at Bourne Hill and supported investment in a modern policing base capable of meeting the future needs of Salisbury and south Wiltshire against a national backdrop of Police Reform.

Mr Wilkinson stressed that engagement will continue beyond the submission of the outline planning application, with further opportunities for communities to receive updates, ask questions and provide feedback as the project progresses through the planning process.

The proposed Southern Policing Hub forms part of the wider Safer South Wiltshire programme and is intended to provide a modern operational base for neighbourhood, response and specialist policing teams serving Salisbury and south Wiltshire.

Published Wednesday 19 August 2026