A MULTI-million pound scheme to deliver brand new, state-of-the-art facilities for Lancashire Constabulary has reached a key milestone this week.

A topping out ceremony, which recognises reaching the highest point of the build, was held at what will become the force’s new headquarters for its west division in Blackpool with guests including police officers, police staff and Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw.

Leading property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard is providing project management, quantity surveying and NEC supervisor services for the £24m build, which will provide a base for local policing and immediate response teams as well as housing a public enquiry desk, investigations hub and 42 custody cells. It will also  bring together a range of specialist teams, serving the whole of the division. The firm is working in partnership with contractor Willmott Dixon and multi-disciplinary designer McBains Cooper.

The project is being delivered  through Scape Group’s  national Major Works framework as part of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s capital programme.

Jon Parry, regional director at Pick Everard, said: “The topping out ceremony has marked an important milestone for this project and we are excited to have reached this point in the scheme, which will provide state-of-the-art facilities for Lancashire Constabulary.”

The new building, located close to the M55 on Clifton Road, represents the force’s largest ever investment and will replace the current Bonny Street Police Station, which is no longer fit for purpose.

“Pick Everard is responsible for project delivery from start to finish, which has included navigating a challenging two-year period to develop the brief, undertake extensive stakeholder engagement and develop designs with full constabulary and stakeholder sign off,” added Jon.