Work on a new police station and custody suite on the outskirts of Llanelli is due to get underway this summer, Dyfed-Powys Police have said.
Planning permission for the building has been granted by Carmarthenshire Council, and construction company Willmott Dixon has been awarded the contract by the police force to build it. It will take shape on land west of Heol Aur, Dafen, and is expected to cost £12 million to £15 million.
The curved building will have 18 cells, interview rooms, virtual courts, offices, 135 parking spaces and 20 bike spaces. It will be open 24/7, employ around 180 staff, and replace custody suites in Llanelli and Ammanford.
A Dyfed-Powys Police spokeswoman said: "The work is due to start during the summer of 2021 and should be complete during the autumn of 2022."
The force bought the Dafen site, close to Wales Air Ambulance's base, from the Welsh Government. It currently has police stations in Waunlanyrafon, Llanelli, and Lon Ceiriog, Llwynhendy.
Speaking last year, Dyfed-Powys Police’s lead on the project, chief inspector Richard Hopkin, said: “This (new) build will not replace the existing presence of our neighbourhood team in Llanelli town centre, but will enhance the service across the town and the wider communities."
The new police station and custody suite was described last year by Dyfed-Powys police and crime commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn as major investment "which will see an ambitious, modern, sustainable, fit-for-purpose policing hub and custody suite that will meet the needs and expectations of modern policing".
Dafen councillor Rob Evans said it was good that builders could be on site this summer.
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"The access up there is really good - I think it's a marvellous idea that it's going there. Llanelli police station is old and not fit-for-purpose. They really need a new one," he said.
- Voters will choose the next Dyfed-Powys police and crime commissioner on May 6. The four candidates are Jon Burns (Welsh Conservatives), Dafydd Llywelyn (Plaid Cymru), Tomos Preston (Liberal Democrats) and Philippa Thompson (Labour and Co-Operative Party).
