Marlow’s police team will soon have a permanent base as the redeveloped station is set to open in the summer.

Officers had to relocate to Marlow FC, in Oak Tree Road, operating out of two portable cabins in the grounds, after plans to convert the Dean Street police station into 30 retirement flats were given the green light in 2016.

A new police office was included in the plans.

This week, Marlow’s top police officer Sergeant Robin Hughes, said the newly created police office will open in August.

He said: “We are very excited to soon be back on our Dean Street site at a purpose built police station.

“This will give us greater visibility in the town.”

He told the Marlow Free Press that over the next few months a “pop-up” police station will be visiting places in Marlow, Bourne End, Wooburn Green and villages around the area, with crime prevention material.

Plans to transform the police station in the “gateway” to Marlow were given the go-ahead despite concerns over limited parking spaces and impact on neighbouring homes.

The police station has been in the spotlight since 2014 when Thames Valley Police was forced to put it up for sale after announcing £44.6 million of savings had to be made.

After revealing plans to transform the Georgian building into 30 retirement apartments, Churchill Retirement living was given the nod by Wycombe district councillors in December 2016.

Despite parking concerns, developers insisted that 11 parking spaces were enough to accommodate the 30 flats.

Neighbours living in Trinity Road and Verney Close, which back onto the police station, also strongly opposed the size of the development for “severely impacting” their properties.

The scheme is made up of one and two bedroom flats for over 60s complete with a garden, also including the development of a smaller custom built police station.

After officers moved into the football ground, Sgt Hughes said it was “just an operating base” adding that having the police team based in the town while the work was ongoing was the “most important thing”.

Marlow mayor Cllr Jocelyn Towns said: “It is great to have police in Marlow – it is even better that they are coming back to the centre of the town. We as a town welcome them for having a presence here.

“It will undoubtedly be easier for people to speak to them – it is going to be a very visible presence and that will be very helpful.”

And Cllr Suzanne Brown, who last month compared Marlow to New York following knife and gun attacks in separate incidents in and around the town, said it was “fantastic news”.

She said: “I don’t know what it is about having a police station but people feel a lot safer when there is one. 

“I’m really glad it’s back.”