WORK is well underway at Gloucestershire’s new police academy, which is being constructed in Berkeley on the site of an old nuclear power station.

The new training college is being built on part of the former nuclear power station site at Berkeley Green.

It is anticipated the 3,000 square metre complex with meeting rooms, a canteen, parade ground, sports hall and parking for around 250 cars will be ready early in the new year and fully operational in time for the next intake of trainees.

Vicki Heselton, head of estates and support services at Gloucestershire Constabulary said: “The programme of work is showing that we are going live with the new Learning and Development and Conference Centre in May 2020. It is an exciting opportunity to develop a bespoke, state of the art centre of excellence for use by the Constabulary and Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, and in time for use by other forces and partner agencies.

“At present we are stripping out the interior of the building to allow us to remove structures and to remodel the building to deliver facilities required of a modern learning environment, to meet the new assessment requirements for student officers and provide conference facilities which are an exemplar and centre of excellence in the region.

“Progress and works are going extremely well and we are on programme for delivery on time.”