A turf cutting ceremony today paved the way for a new state-of-the-art police station in Harrogate.
Jane Kenyon, Chairman of the North Yorkshire Police Authority and Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell cut the first turf from the site of Beckwith Knowle, marking a significant milestone in the history of the North Yorkshire Police.
The station will replace the existing 1930s base in North Park Road and will provide purpose-built facilities which will enable the North Yorkshire Police to deliver a high-quality policing service to communities of Harrogate well into the future.
A small, town-centre office will also be acquired as a base for the 30 officers and staff who make up the town-centre Safer Neighbourhood Team.
Ms Kenyon said: “This really is a special day for the Authority, Force and the communities we serve – not just in Harrogate but across the whole country – who will benefit from this long overdue addition to the Force’s estate. It has taken a tremendous amount of planning and hard work to get to this significant point and I want to put it on record my thanks to all who have been involved to date and to those in the future”
Mr Maxwell added: “I am delighted we are starting the construction phase of this project, which will provide Harrogate with a 21st century police station and will enable us to continue to provide a high quality policing service to local communities for years to come”
“The three-storey building will be one of the most advanced of its kind, making the most of modern building methods including flexible working space and green technology”
“To reduce the use of non-renewable resources, solar panels are to be installed on the roof to pre-heat water, which will be used to meet thermal loads within the building and air source heat pumps will be used to extract heat from the outside to provide heating or cooling as required”
It will provide working space for 200 officers and staff, 16 cell custody suite built to Home Office specifications, two vehicle docks and a separate reception area for the public.
The station will be built by GB Building Solutions and is due to be completed by Spring 2012.
The cost of the whole project, including purchase of land, design, construction, moving and fixtures and fittings is just under £18M.
