20 March 2007 - 1096

A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY TO LAUNCH CONSTRUCTION OF NEW POLICE STATION IN HATFIELD

A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY was held on Friday to officially launch the beginning of works by Willmott Dixon to construct a new Police Station for Hatfield and Headquarters for Central Area.

At approximately 6,900 square metres of office and other accommodation, the station will house operational functions and also allow for key departments to be brought together to enable them to communicate more effectively and work more closely together.

The complex consists of two Grade 2 buildings which are the old administration and canteen buildings of de Havilland and latterly, British Aerospace.

These listed buildings, which are currently in a considerable state of disrepair, will be carefully restored and refurbished.

The project is being carried out by Willmott Dixon’s local office in Hitchin and the site team will be led by Simon Ramage, who lives in nearby St Albans.

The development will also include a large custody suite for the Central Area that has been designed to process detainees more quickly. This will bring great benefits in terms of getting officers back out on the streets in the shortest possible time.

The project is due for completion in Summer 2008.

Richard Smith, Police Authority Lead for Public Access and Visibility, said: “I am absolutely delighted we have arrived at this stage.

“As the lead member for Welwyn Hatfield, I am really pleased to see these two listed buildings being brought back into usefulness.

“They are very famous landmarks and will evoke many nostalgic thoughts for those who have lived and worked in Hatfield for many years – many of whom may well have worked for de Havilland or British Aerospace.”

Area Commander Alison Roome-Gifford said: “This is a very exciting development. We are very proud to be able to provide the Central Area with a fitting policing facility and will be maximising any opportunities that arise to work with our partners.

“The reasons for building the new station are part of a wider modernisation programme designed to offer numerous benefits – a main objective being improving public accessibility, visibility and service.

“We will be working with the community and particularly those people concerned with the significant history of this site to create a building that we can all truly be proud of – and that is also a fitting monument to the legacy of de Havilland.”

Mike Hart, managing director for Willmott Dixon at the Hitchin office, said:”We are proud to have been awarded this project.

“Willmott Dixon is experienced in building law and order accommodation, ranging from new prison facilities under a national framework agreement to new magistrates courts such as the one being built in Loughborough, so we are looking forward to using our skills in this important area to provide another exceptional facility.”

Herts Beat 2007
Central Area

Herts Beat 2007
Western Area