Police headquarters set for multi-million pound refurbishment

Rochdale’s police headquarter is set for a £28million refurbishment.

Greater Manchester Police Authority was asked to consider two options, which included the refurbishment of the existing building costing £27,330,261 or the construction of a new building on a Brownfield site at a cost of £45,924,392.

The conclusion was that the preferred option is to refurbish the existing headquarters. This will include a 30-cell custody facility with the flexibility to increase to 40 or 50 cells with the addition of extra wing and also the possibility to provide a second vehicle dock.

The public arrival and circulation areas will be part of a stand alone two-story staff block at the front of the site. Arranged around the central core area of charge and search, will be separate, self contained wings including detention cells, exercise yards and interview and consultation rooms.

It is hoped that planning permission will be granted by March with work possibly starting as early as June 2010.

Rochdale’s representative on the Greater Manchester Police Authority Councillor Barbara Todd said: “I am delighted that our police headquarters is finally receiving the refurbishment it desperately needs. Current service activities at the HQ were severely affected by the poor environment and the improvements will undoubtedly boost staff moral.”

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen said: “It is important to know that our local police force have the best facilities to help tackle crime and I think this development will help with this."