Willmott Dixon has been chosen by Humberside Police Force and developer Wykeland Group to construct a £20m operational support building to house a 500-strong police force
Proposals for the £20m three-storey operational support building at Wykeland’s flagship Melton West business park have been submitted to East Riding of Yorkshire Council and if accepted, construction by Willmott Dixon is expected to start in the third quarter of 2020.
Humberside Police Force development
The Humberside Police Force development, called Melton 2, will provide 107,000 sq ft of accommodation for around 535 staff from the force’s Operational Support Services and is sited next to an existing facility built-in 2014, Melton 1, which is home to specialist teams and support staff.
Procured via Major Works England and Northern Ireland, a part of the Scape National Construction framework, Willmott Dixon is working with Bond Bryan Architects to take the plans through planning and into construction.
In conjunction with the existing centre, Melton 2 will provide tailored facilities for operations and support staff, supporting greater functional efficiency.
The proposed scheme also aims to improve the quality of work and training environments for Humberside Police personnel. It will be a significant new addition to Melton West.
Operational support building design
The design includes key sustainable features such as energy efficient heating and lighting systems, the use of environmentally-friendly materials and facilities to encourage staff to cycle to and from work.
Humberside police and crime commissioner, Keith Hunter, said: “The new development at Melton will, if approved, allow Humberside Police to bring together a number of specialist crime investigation functions, some of which deal with the most serious crimes and vulnerable victims, and provide a new, state of the art force control room which will continue the great progress made in public contact over the last few years.”
Blue light construction
This latest project adds to Willmott Dixon’s presence as a major constructor of blue light and custodial facilities, with the company responsible for schemes worth nearly £200m in the last three years.
Anthony Dillon, manager director at Willmott Dixon, said: “We are delighted to be creating an important new hub for Humberside Police. It’s going to provide a smart, efficient environment for the force to deliver policing across the region for many generations to come.”
Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, added: “The government has pledged 20,000 new police recruits over the next three years, therefore we must ensure that the facilities available are both fit for purpose and future-proofed for this rapid expansion of officer numbers.
“By harnessing the extensive experience Scape and Willmott Dixon have in working with police authorities, Humberside Police Force and developer Wykeland Group can be confident that this project will be delivered with dedicated expertise and a full commitment to ensure that taxpayers money is spent efficiently and locally.”
