A CASH-strapped police force has unveiled plans for a new £14m headquarters – only yards from its current base.

Durham Police wants to abandon its Sixties-built Aykley Heads HQ, in Durham City, for a new three-storey pavilion- style home across the road.

Force chiefs say the present building is no longer fit for purpose, with extremely high running and maintenance costs.

However, the announcement comes amid increasing anger over police cutbacks.

The force has suffered 101 redundancies since 2008, slashed opening hours at all its main stations and drawn up plans for £6m-worth of savings to cope with 110 fewer officers over five years.

On Tuesday, Peter Thompson, the chairman of Durham Police Authority, said he had little choice but to order the demolition of police-run Aykley Heads leisure centre, due to “severe spending cuts” imposed by the Government.

The force is facing a 20 per cent budget cut over four years, including £15m over two years.

However, a police spokeswoman said the new building would bring savings of £750,000 a year.

Mr Thompson said: “The new building will represent a considerable saving to the police authority, at a time when every penny spent is being scrutinised and must be justified.”

It is hoped the existing HQ site would be used for executive housing, although few details are available yet. The force will ask Durham County Council to grant outline planning permission for this part of the scheme.

If full consent is granted for the new HQ, building could begin in October next year and could be open in April 2014. Built to the highest “green” credentials, it would accommodate up to 480 officers and staff.

The plans will go on display around County Durham and Darlington over the next two weeks: Darlington Town Hall, Monday, from 5pm to 7pm; Newton Aycliffe police station, Tuesday, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm; Peterlee police station, on Wednesday, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm; Consett police station next Thursday, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm; Bishop Auckland police station on October 28, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm; and County Hall, Durham, on October 31, from 5pm to 7pm.