Willmott Dixon has completed the £56 million headquarters for Hertfordshire Constabulary in Welwyn Garden City, the first police facility in the UK designed to achieve WELL Platinum, the highest level of the WELL Building Standard.
The 9,000 square metre, four-storey building, delivered through the SCAPE Construction framework, replaces ageing 1960s accommodation on the Constabulary’s Stanborough site with a single, secure base for more than 500 officers and staff. It is set to achieve both WELL Platinum and BREEAM Excellent.
WELL is the leading international benchmark for how a building supports the health and wellbeing of the people inside it, covering air, water, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, nourishment and mind. Reaching its highest level in an operational policing environment – where security, resilience and round-the-clock operational demands come first – has not been done before in this country.
Simon Ramage, managing director for Willmott Dixon in Northern Home Counties: “The headquarters stand as a powerful example of how major public sector developments can deliver incredible value. The project has created a legacy that extends well beyond the building itself and sets a standard for future developments across the country."
The headquarters co-locates functions previously dispersed across the estate, including the Major Crime Unit, victim services, the dog unit, the senior leadership team and operational support, while reducing the long-term running costs of the site.
The building also provides integrated custody and operational suites designed in line with national policing standards, secure and discrete vehicular access with holding bays, open-plan flexible office space for agile working and future reconfiguration, conference and training facilities, and welfare provision including quiet rooms, a restaurant, gym, showers and cycle facilities.
Andy Prophet (above), chief constable for Hertfordshire Constabulary: “This is more than just a state-of-the-art headquarters; it is a space that will enable us to provide an outstanding service to the communities we serve. It has been designed to bring people together, helping us to collaborate more effectively, learn from one another and drive innovation. It is a 21st-century workplace for a modern, ambitious police force, and I am excited about the opportunities it will create for our officers, staff and volunteers in the years ahead.”
Environmental performance was embedded from the outset rather than added on. Air-source heat pumps and high-efficiency HVAC systems significantly reduce operational emissions, an in-situ reinforced concrete primary frame provides thermal mass and resilience, future-proofed photovoltaic infrastructure enables on-site renewable generation, and a sustainable urban drainage system (SuDS) manages water across the site.
Police and crime commissioner for Hertfordshire, Jonathan Ash-Edwards, cut the ribbon when the facility was handed over. He said: “Major public building projects do not always have a reputation for being delivered on time and on budget, which makes this achievement all the more significant.
“This new headquarters is the result of strong leadership, clear governance and careful management throughout every stage of the project. By maintaining a relentless focus on value for money and effective oversight, we have delivered a modern policing facility that meets the needs of Hertfordshire both now and in the future. It demonstrates what can be achieved when there is a clear vision, strong accountability and a commitment to delivering for the public.”
