Inside the new £48m Merseyside Police Headquarters
More than 1,000 officers and staff will be working from the 137,000 sq ft building, designed by Ryder Architecture and built by Willmott Dixon.
Lead contractor Willmott Dixon finished work on the eight-acre site this autumn, and the official ribbon-cutting ceremony was held earlier this week.
The new building is set to save the force £250,000 a year, according to Merseyside police and crime commissioner Emily Spurrell. She also said the project was finished both on time and within budget.
Named Rose Hill, the headquarters sits off Cazneau Street in Liverpool.
The building was designed by Ryder Architecture. Credit: via Willmott Dixon
“We are delighted to see the completion and handover of the new Merseyside Police Headquarters,” said Aaron Young, project architect and associate at Ryder. “Over five years in the making since initial site feasibility studies, we are very proud to have been part of a great team throughout project journey.
“The proposal brings together corporate departments into one facility to maximise operational efficiency, improve collaboration between departments and transform the working practices of the force,” Young continued.
“Working closely with Merseyside Police throughout the entire design and construction process, we have delivered a high-quality workplace that meets the demands of modern policing and one that is flexible and adaptable for the future.”
Rose Hill is located off Cazneau Street. Credit: via Willmott Dixon
The new building includes a memorial garden, which is dedicated to the officers who have lost their lives while in the line of duty.
In terms of sustainability credentials, the building has LED lighting throughout, includes 260 solar panels on its roof and involved the planting of 96 trees.
According to the police, 650 officers and staff will be moving to the new headquarters from Canning Place offices. Another 350 will come from Brunswick Dock, with 100 coming from Lower Lane Station.
Merseyside Police hope to sell Canning Place, which it believes will help the service recoup a large portion of the cost to build Rose Hill.
Rose Hill replaces the 1970s-built Canning Place as the new police HQ. Credit: Willmott Dixon
“We are very proud to hand over these new modern facilities for Merseyside Police, which will provide a quality and value-for-money working environment to ensure officers and staff are equipped to serve the people of Merseyside now and in the future,” said Anthony Dillon, managing director for Willmott Dixon in the North.
“We’re committed to delivering brilliant buildings, transforming lives and strengthening the communities in which we work, which has seen us invest £33.4m of our project spend to date with local businesses in the region,” Dillon continued.
“It is thanks to the strength of the relationships and collaboration between our team, the force and all our local design and supply chain partners that we have overcome the challenges of the pandemic to date, completing the project on time and budget, and, most importantly, keeping everyone safe on site.”
All photos courtesy of Willmott Dixon
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