Hertfordshire Constabulary HQ

A national first for policing and wellbeing

Willmott Dixon delivered the new £56 million headquarters for Hertfordshire Constabulary in Welwyn Garden City - the first police facility in the UK designed to achieve WELL Platinum, the highest level of the WELL Building Standard.

WELL is the leading international benchmark for how a building supports the health and wellbeing of the people inside it, covering air, water, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, nourishment and mind. Reaching its highest level in an operational policing environment, where security, resilience and 24/7 operational demands come first , has never been done before in this country. It sets a new standard for what a modern police estate can be, and for what public sector clients can expect from their buildings.

A modern operational base for Hertfordshire

The scheme replaced ageing 1960s accommodation on the Constabulary’s existing Stanborough site with a single, secure, purpose-built home for more than 500 officers and staff. Two office wings are separated by a full-height glazed atrium topped with a feature glulam timber roof, a biophilic heart to the building that floods the interior with daylight and draws the force’s departments together.

Delivered through the SCAPE Construction framework, the 9,000m² headquarters co-locates functions that were previously dispersed across the estate, including the Major Crime Unit, victim services, the dog unit, the senior leadership team and operational support ,while reducing the long-term running costs of the site.

What we built

The building has been designed around how a modern force actually works, balancing operational security with an environment built for the wellbeing of the people who use it:

• Open-plan, flexible office space, enabling agile working and future reconfiguration.
• Integrated custody and operational suites, designed in line with national policing standards.
• Secure and discrete vehicular access, including holding bays and service areas.
• Welfare and wellbeing facilities including quiet rooms, restaurant, gym, showers and cycling provision.
• A biophilic full-height central atrium beneath a glulam timber feature roof, promoting wellness and natural light.

Security and sustainability, delivered together

The headquarters is set to achieve both WELL Platinum and BREEAM Excellent, placing it among the highest-performing buildings of its type in the country on both wellbeing and environmental measures. Environmental performance was embedded from the outset rather than added on: air-source heat pumps and high-efficiency HVAC systems significantly reduce operational emissions, an in-situ reinforced concrete primary frame provides thermal mass and resilience, future-proofed PV infrastructure enables on-site renewable generation, and a sustainable urban drainage system (SuDS) manages water across the site.

Andy Prophet, Chief Constable, Hertfordshire Constabulary

Trusted by forces across the UK

Hertfordshire is the latest addition to one of the strongest blue light portfolios in the industry. It follows hard on the heels of the new Kirklees Police Headquarters in Dewsbury for West Yorkshire Police, a six-storey, 10,464m² district headquarters with a Category A, 30-cell custody suite, also delivered through SCAPE, which retained and refurbished the 1880s Oldroyd building at its heart.

Alongside these, we have delivered headquarters buildings for Dorset, Humberside and Merseyside Police, a new police station for Cambridgeshire Constabulary at Milton, a custody suite for Bedfordshire Police, a forensics centre for Thames Valley Police, a purpose-built training facility for South Wales Police, and fire stations and training centres for West Sussex and Avon Fire & Rescue Services. Few contractors can match that depth of understanding of secure, operationally live emergency services environments.

A £28m legacy for Hertfordshire

As a Hertfordshire-based company building for its own county’s force, the project delivered social and economic impact valued at more than £28 million – double the original target and a new benchmark for public sector development in the region. More than £264,000 was spent with social enterprises, creating local jobs, delivering mentoring and supporting pathways into sustainable employment. The project also achieved a maximum Considerate Constructors Scheme score of 45 out of 45, reflecting best practice in community engagement, environmental responsibility and site safety.

What people said:

“The headquarters stand as a powerful example of how major public sector developments can deliver incredible value. The project has created a legacy that extends well beyond the building itself and sets a standard for future developments across the country.”

Simon Ramage, Managing Director, Willmott Dixon

“This is more than just a state-of-the-art headquarters; it is a space that will enable us to provide an outstanding service to the communities we serve. It has been designed to bring people together, helping us to collaborate more effectively, learn from one another and drive innovation. It is a 21st-century workplace for a modern, ambitious police force, and I am excited about the opportunities it will create for our officers, staff and volunteers in the years ahead.”

Andy Prophet, Chief Constable, Hertfordshire Constabulary

“Major public building projects do not always have a reputation for being delivered on time and on budget, which makes this achievement all the more significant. This new headquarters is the result of strong leadership, clear governance and careful management throughout every stage of the project.”

Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire