Morgan Sindall tops out at £17m police firearms unit
A topping out ceremony has marked a major construction milestone at a training facility in Stafford this week, which is set to provide a venue for firearms officers for the next four decades.
Work began on building a long-term replacement for the existing leased facilities at Baden Hall Firing Range in August last year, after Staffordshire Police decided the site was at risk due to a potential re-development of the site.
The project has involved the demolition of existing outdated buildings at the headquarters building on Weston Road to make way for a purpose-built, soundproofed facility that meets national standards for firearms training.
Facilities being constructed on site include a 10-lane, 50-metre indoor firing range, training rooms and office space. The scheme also includes a skills house to train tactics relating to building entry and searching.
The professional team on the project includes Morgan Sindall, Blue Sky Architects, Appleyard and Trew, DSSR Consulting Engineers and WML Consulting.
The building is expected to be completed by the end of November.
Richard Fielding, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Midlands, said: “Reaching this topping out milestone is a real moment of pride for everyone involved in delivering this new Police Firearms Training Facility. The team has worked in close collaboration with Staffordshire Police to deliver a building that will support Armed Response Officers, and in turn, the Staffordshire community.
“We’re immensely proud to be playing our part in creating a high-quality, safety-focused facility and very much look forward to completing the project later this year.”
Wider works on the project include improvements to site access, hard and soft landscaping, and the installation of an on-site substation, making sure the facility operates efficiently while remaining integrated within its surroundings.
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams said: “The construction of Staffordshire Police’s firearms training facility is a significant investment in the force, and part of a wider estates plan to ensure its buildings are sustainable and future-proof.
“The project will create a purpose-built facility which can meet the force’s firearms training needs for the next 30-40 years. Police firearms deployments in Staffordshire are relatively low, but when our communities need an armed response to keep them safe, it’s essential that firearms officers have the right training and facilities in place to deliver the highest quality service.
“Morgan Sindall and their supply chain, our design consultants, and internal staff are all working hard to ensure the project continues smoothly. I’m looking forward to seeing the build progress through the summer and autumn, ready for the opening of the new firearms training facility at the end of the year.”
Acting Chief Constable Becky Riggs said: “I am delighted to see the progress we are making with our new firearms training facility.
“We are fortunate to not have many firearms incidents in Staffordshire, but when they are needed, we must ensure our firearms officers are highly trained and effective. This new facility will mean we have officers with the highest quality training and assessment who can respond effectively to keep the communities of Staffordshire safe.
“I look forward to seeing this facility in operation by the end of the year.”
