Under the plans, several modern buildings will be retained on the Stanborough Road site but three of the large administration blocks and five smaller buildings, some dating back to the 1960s, have reached the end of their economic life, and would require a backlog of repairs costing £15m.

The aim now is to replace these old buildings with two new buildings, one of four storeys and one of three, which will be less expensive to run than the cost of keeping the existing buildings.

The new two wings will be connected by a central full height glazed atrium

Under the present plan a contractor will be appointed after a two-stage bid process to start the project in August next year on a three-year construction programme.

Interior of planned new HQ for Hertfordshire Constabulary

Initial bid documents for the two-stage competition are available here and are due back on 5 November.