Topping out ceremony marks project milestone for new joint services hub
Project partners came together last week to mark the final beam being placed into the structure of the new joint police and fire hub in Redditch.
The fit-for-purpose police and fire hub, due to officially open in 2024, will bring together West Mercia Police and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) under one roof, allowing them to work more closely together and ensure communities receive the highest level of service.
Built in the heart of the Redditch, the project will replace outdated facilities to make way for improved services for the local community and strengthen joint responses to emergency incidents.
To celebrate the building milestone, PCC John Campion was joined by West Mercia Police Chief Constable Pippa Mills, Chief Fire Officer Jon Pryce, building contractors Speller Metcalfe, Redditch Borough Council Leader Cllr Matt Dormer and Deputy Chief Executive Sue Hanley, Fire Authority Cllr Kit Taylor, and High Sheriff for Worcestershire Louise Hewett.
PCC John Campion said: “I am pleased to be joined by partners to mark this significant moment in the construction of this new building. I hope communities are reassured to see work is progressing at pace, in order to deliver a central hub for the two emergency services to work together and support communities.”
The new, £17.6m development will become the local HQ for predominantly administration services, with the police and fire units sharing a number of facilities across the site.
West Mercia Police Chief Constable Pippa Mills said: “It’s a really exciting development right in the heart of Redditch with a new police and fire station for the community that’s well overdue.
“There’s been some challenges like with any project of this size, but we’ve absolutely got the right team working on it and it’s been great to come today and support them.”
HWFRS will also have access to a new accommodation unit for on-call officers, a training drill tower and appliance bay for three service vehicles.
Chief Fire Officer Jon Pryce added he was delighted on the progress made on the new police and fire station. “Our continued collaboration with West Mercia Police will provide the community of Redditch with a new fire station which meets the needs of the modern fire service with facilities which will aid the delivery of our core strategies of delivering high quality Response, Protection and Prevention to our communities,” he said.
“The new building will not only provide vastly improved facilities, it will also be more energy efficient and sustainable for long into the future.”
As well as inviting project partners to celebrate, the local community has been participating in this community project, most recently taking part in a Family Fun Day in August, and enjoying a direct view into the progress of construction through portholes in the external hoarding.
“As a Worcestershire contractor, we are delighted to be able to support our own communities in providing a facility that meets the needs of local residents in 2023 and beyond,” said Mark Hudgeon, divisional director at Speller Metcalfe.
The scheme on Middlehouse Lane, which was procured through the PAGABO framework, is due to complete in 2024
