Henry Brothers hands over new police and fire service headquarters

Contractor Henry Brothers has handed over a new joint headquarters for Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service

The three-storey building at Sherwood Lodge in Arnold, Nottingham, contains shared office space, conference rooms, a new multi-agency strategic and tactical control room, a new police control room, new training classrooms, a sports hall, gymnasium and canteen.

Other key features include the completion of a new circular access road, the installation of an outdoor exercise trail for staff and a joint memorial garden dedicated to the memory of staff from both organisations who have died in service.

The building was constructed on time and on budget by lead contractor Henry Brothers Limited – a particularly impressive achievement as all the work took place during the pandemic.

Senior officers from both services welcomed a small number of guests to the site to mark the key handover of the new build and the formal adoption of the wider site.

Managing director of contractor Henry Brothers Midlands, Ian Taylor, said: “We are very pleased to have handed over this new joint headquarters building for Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.

“The Henry Brothers’ team was incredibly proud to have been selected to build this facility for our emergency services - supporting many local jobs on the site and in the wider local supply chain. We are delighted to have completed a project which will play such an important role in supporting the Nottinghamshire community in the future.”

Guests were given a tour of the new complex and treated to refreshments from Pulp Friction, a Nottinghamshire-based social enterprise which will run the site’s new purpose-built café.

Chief Constable Craig Guildford, speaking from the newly completed parade square at the front of the new building, said: “This is a really significant day in the history of both organisations, and I am delighted with what has been achieved.

“This collaborative project represents a long-term commitment to partnership and joint working between two organisations with proud histories of public service. This is very good news for the public purse, all of our staff and the communities we serve across Nottinghamshire.

Headquarters staff from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service will be moving over to the new site gradually until summer 2022.

Chief Fire Officer John Buckley said: “I am thrilled to see the completion of our joint headquarters, after many months of hard work from both organisations.

"We already work closely with Nottinghamshire Police in a number of ways, so this is a fantastic opportunity to share knowledge and resources, and to become more efficient as Services in creating safer communities.”

Toby Neal, Vice Chair of Nottinghamshire and City of Nottingham Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “It’s an impressive building with impressive working space, that is going to bring closer working between Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.

“The benefits will be closer working, but also better use of finances and resources. The organisations work closely to protect the public, and that’s the most important thing. Anything that improves their working together is good.”

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry said: “Our HQ is the newest tool in our arsenal as we combat crime across the county and will enable us to deliver 21st Century policing in Nottinghamshire. The unveiling of our new headquarters is also a testament to our partnership working with the fire service, enabling us to better serve the public and save money.”

Nottingham-based Henry Brothers Midlands began work on site during summer 2020. Other members of the construction team on the joint headquarters project for the emergency services included Gleeds for project management, cost consultancy and M&E services, YMD Boon as architect, and civil and structural engineering firm HWA.

Henry Brothers Midlands, based at Priory Court, Derby Road, Beeston, is part of The Henry Group, which comprises a number of manufacturing and construction sector companies, ranging from external construction through to interiors fit-out.

For more information, visit www.henrybrothers.co.uk