A POLICE Station is set to be sold off to developers after Thames Valley Police revealed plans to significantly downsize its estate.

At a briefing yesterday over the Marlow station's future, Deputy Chief Constable Francis Habgood said the large, purpose-built building on Dean Street is too big for Marlow and its needs.

A smaller police station is set to be retained on the site, with the remainder put up for sale, most likely to housing developers.

TVP says it must make savings of £44.6m over the next three years, on top of the £58.9m shaved off its budget since 2011/12.

A spokesman said: "Thames Valley Police remains committed to protecting the frontline, planning for future growth and collaborating with partners to co-locate services where practical.

"We remain focussed on reducing non staff costs, such as the estate, as much as we can.

"Estate costs have been high and need to reduce, but retaining an appropriate local coverage remains important.

"The aim is to have a leaner, fit for purpose, lower cost and lower carbon footprint estate with greater emphasis on agile working."

Straddled across three counties, TVP has 154 sites totalling 140,000sqm, and 73 houses, costing £21m a year.

The force has not yet confirmed when the Marlow sale might take place, but have confirmed considerable savings need to be made by 2017.

County Councillor Bill Bendyshe-Brown, who sits on the Police and Crime Panel, revealed earlier this week that plans were in motion to incorporate the Marlow building into a larger development.

A press conference called for Thursday morning outlined a series of other closures across the force area, including Gerrards Cross and Chesham, which will be ‘replaced locally’ over the next five years.

And Bourne End’s neighbourhood office is to be surrendered during 2014, a move which TVP says will save nearly £25,000 a year.

Expansion of some areas is planned, with more neighbourhood offices on their way, but so far these are earmarked for the north of the county around Aylesbury and beyond.

TVP insists replacement of police stations will not jeopardise response times to incidents requiring immediate police attention.

And police chiefs say moving the police base or team to a new location will not mean a reduction in the number of officers and staff available to help residents.

The current Marlow Police Station was built in the late 1960s to replace the original building around the corner of Trinity Road.

The centuries-old brick structure still bears the words ‘Police Station’ above the door, and featured a purpose built court room.

Crimean war hero and Marlow legend General Sir George Higginson sat in the court as a magistrate until shortly before his death in 1927 aged 100.