That comment about Ripley being replaced by a new base a few miles south might be pertinent if as stated they are having two units co-located.
NPAS say they are having two different units at the same airport...... so if they are different it would seem a waste of money dumping Ripley.
However if this 15 base model 'sounds' better than simply saying 14 there may be some perverse sense in it I suppose. It may be they are to be two in name only because their remit it different.
There may well be hidden agenda reasons why the base at Ripley is to be abandoned. Ripley was purpose built and was located at the Police HQ rather than at a best site ..... and I recall that fog is/was a problem there [it certainly was on the day they opened the place!].
Perhaps there is an overall desire to distance NPAS bases from the ties and potential interference of being on police premises?
Carr Gate/Wakefield may be different in that it is a West Yorkshire controlled place. Maybe dumping Lippitts is not about cost?