New headquarters for Dudley Police on track for autumn opening
New headquarters for Dudley Police on track for autumn opening
Building work on Dudley Police’s new headquarters is on track, with the site scheduled to open in autumn.
Work on the site at Castlegate business park, started in March following the purchase of the former insurance call centre.
Plumbers, electricians, bricklayers and other skilled workers are now turning the site into a fully functioning police station, for the hundreds of officers, staff and volunteers who will be based there.
One of their priorities is to create a public contact office where people can report crime and get advice in person.
It will also replace Brierley Hill police station which currently serves as the Dudley Police’s headquarters. The new site, just half a mile from the current police station, will house two neighbourhood policing teams when Brierley Hill police station closes in autumn.
Brierley Hill police station has been listed for closure since 2018 when the decision was made following careful public scrutiny of the plan.
Speaking about the new Dudley site, Chief Constable Craig Guildford, said: “This is a fantastic development of an iconic building close to the castle.
“The geographic location of the new police station will help us to respond in an efficient manner while co-locating with the council at Cable Plaza in Brierley Hill is good news for the taxpayer and helps us build effective working relationships.”
Midlands construction company, Speller Metcalfe, is renovating the site, providing jobs and training for local people like trainee estimator Alice.
Her apprenticeship means she will earn a salary as she learns new skills and secures formal qualifications.
Speaking about working on this major project to create the town’s new police station, she said: “My role is to support on pricing the project and paying subcontractors. I’ve grown up in Tipton and Dudley so it’s nice be doing something for the community.
“I’m really enjoying working on the project. I’m working for a great company, alongside some amazing people and I’m learning all the time.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Simon foster said: “I’m pleased to see a Midlands company delivering my multi-million-pound investment in Dudley’s police buildings.
“As part of my Police & Crime Plan commitment to rebuild community policing, not only am I delivering a new borough headquarters in Dudley, I can today announce that West Midlands Police have secured space in Dudley Council’s Cable Plaza site, for a new police base.
“This will give the neighbourhood officers who will be based there, the modern facilities they deserve to serve the people of Brierley Hill.”
Local MP, Cat Eccles, said: “A lot of residents will be really pleased to hear that we’ve finally found a replacement for the outdated police station on Brierley Hill high street.
“I know a lot of residents have been really concerned about keeping their neighbourhood teams close by, especially after we managed to get the Stourbridge police base open.
“The great thing about Cable Plaza is that local officers will be collocated with Dudley Council staff, close to businesses and near to the town’s ambulance & fire stations in this thriving hub.”