A SOUTHAMPTON police station is set to reopen next year, six years after it was closed.

Bitterne Police Station was closed in 2016 with the building due to be sold off, but last year, plans were announced to reopen the site.

The news was welcomed at the time by community leaders who described the move as a “step in the right direction”.

The plan was originally to have the new station open by 2021, but now the site is due to reopen by the middle of next year following months of refurbishments.

While speaking to the Echo about her plans for the area, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Hampshire, Donna Jones, said she is “reopening Bitterne Police Station”.

Daily Echo: Donna Jones, the new Police and Crime Commissioner

The PCC said: “I’ve taken that decision and that should be reopening the middle of next year. That will be undergoing a significant refurbishment over the next 9 to 10 months.”

Following the announcement, it is said that the pandemic delayed some early works at the site.

But a spokesperson for the Office of the PCC said this had not delayed additional officers serving the community as they joined existing bases in the city.

They added: “Bitterne provides an excellent location in Southampton to provide the additional capacity required for the uplift of additional police officers as a result of increased Government funding and officers recruited in the uplift programme are already working in and serving the community in Bitterne.

“The refurbished police station will provide greater visibility and accessibility.”

Bitterne ward councillor, Matt Magee, said: “It is great to have more investment in the east of the city and we look forward to the additional police presence on our streets.”

Southampton Itchen MP, Royston Smith, branded the news as “fantastic”.

“I have campaigned to get the Police station in Bitterne reopened and operational”, he told the Daily Echo.

“This Conservative Government’s hard stance on crime alongside better police funding and officer recruitment is making our streets safer.

“Investment in law enforcement and tougher sentences for criminals is also helping reduce crime rates across Southampton.”

The news comes after it was announced 600 new police officers would be recruited across the county by 2023.

Cabinet member for communities, culture and heritage, Councillor Spiros Vassiliou said he is pushing for the city to get the largest amount of police officers, on top of eight neighbourhood officers currently in training.

He added: “Opening this police station will be a real benefit to the people because the police will be able to have another base to operate from to tackle crime.”