POLICE have pledged to maintain officer numbers in a city after announcing plans to sell its former Western Area Headquarters to a property developer.

North Yorkshire Police said it was realising a long-term ambition to sell Ripon Police Station as its current teams were over accommodated and the layout and facilities do not support delivery of modern policing services.

It aims to move from North Street, where it has been for about 40 years, to more modern accommodation in the town, within the next 18 months, which will also lower the force's running costs.

The force said it made "good financial sense" to sign a conditional deal with property development company CFK Developments, which will work with retirement home firm McCarthy and Stone to redevelop the 0.9-acre site, subject to planning permission.

Julia Mulligan, the county's police and crime commissioner, said the move was part of a plan that will see the closure of the force's headquarters at Newby Wiske, near Northallerton, replaced.

She said: “I need to make sure North Yorkshire Police has facilities that are fit-for-purpose for the future, which means disposing of some sites and moving some facilities to new premises that are better suited to our needs."

The force said options for a replacement station were being considered and priorities included proximity to the city centre to maintain visibility and to key roads such as the A61.

Chief Constable Dave Jones said the force was committed to maintaining an operational police base in Ripon, while a spokesman confirmed its 40 staff in the city would be unaffected by the move and would remain open five days a week, from 9am to 5pm.

The developers, which also owns a nearby site, plan to demolish the police buildings and develop around 30 flats.

A spokesman for the developers said there was demand in the city for more retirement homes and it was canvassing neighbours' views ahead of a public exhibition detailing its scheme.

He said the retirement flats would enable people to move from larger homes, freeing them for local families that wish to remain in the area.

The plan was given a guarded welcome by Ripon Civic Society, whose chairman David Winpenny said he "would not shed a tear" over the station's demolition.

He said: "It is not a very interesting building and it doesn't respect the building line."