Building to start on Merseyside Police's new headquarters

It's set to open in September 2021

Author: William MarriottPublished 13th Sep 2019
Last updated 13th Sep 2019

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner and Chief Constable have ceremoniously broken the ground at the site of the force’s new headquarters today (13th September) to get work at the £48m centre underway.

It comes after the Police Commissioner first unveiled plans to build a new police headquarters in Everton ward in September 2016.

The announcement followed a year-long evaluation of a host of potential new sites, as well as the potential refurbishment of the existing headquarters. It's said the new headquarters will be cheaper to build and maintain and more sustainable, efficient and environmentally-friendly.

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy said, “I’m thrilled that we are finally now in a position to start work on the new headquarters that Merseyside Police so desperately needs on this key gateway into the city.

“Canning Place has been a loyal servant to the Force for more than 40 years and there is no doubt it boasts a fantastic location, but it is now of an age where expensive repairs and maintenance work are urgent and essential. It is old, inefficient and its structure and layout are no longer fit for purpose. The lighting and ventilation are poor and the car park needs major structural work."

She added, “This new, modern and flexible headquarters will provide officers, PCSOs and staff with the right facilities and working environment to fight crime, now and in the future, ensuring Merseyside Police is equipped to protect our communities for years to come."

The force's new headquarter is being built across from the current station on St Anne Street and is said to house more than 1,100 offices and staff who will move across from Canning Place in Liverpool city centre.

It will have modern, open-plan offices, meeting rooms and break-out spaces, allowing staff to be able to work in a more flexible way.

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