North Cumbria Basic Command Unit Headquarters

DQI was used as part of the design process, as a way to assist the evaluation of shortlisted bidders and to explain the design concept to the Police Authority and project sponsor. The building is now occupied and the prospect of carrying out a Post-Occupancy DQI is currently under discussion.

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The original police station in the centre of Carlisle had been flooded during the storms in January 2005 and, after planning had been refused on another site, the present site on an industrial estate on the outskirts of the town had been found. A 24-cell custody block had been built using fast-track construction in 2006 on the rear of this site to alleviate the pressing need for custody accommodation.

A new BCU is built on the front of the site, in a prominent position with views out across the town. A highly sustainable building is required and the Police Authority was very supportive of this approach. Using the OJEU competitive dialogue route Taylor Young had been chosen among six shortlisted bidders as the preferred bidder for this Design & Build project.

The design incorporates a bold front elevation of three storeys with the opposite side of the atrium at two storeys. The central atrium becomes the heart of the building. There is a high quality garden break-out area at the rear.

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Internally, open plan was a big culture change and using the CIC’s DQI via enabling had helped with this concept. Contrary to initial thoughts, the DQI had been found useful as a means of explaining the design concept to the Police Authority and project sponsor. Such a flexible open plan would not have been possible without using these design processes. The Home Office enabler had been very valuable and that input was much appreciated.

A mini-design review, which was seen as a very helpful "critical friend", had produced some thought-provoking ideas. The concept and prospect of a full Home Office design review had sharpened up the designers.

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This case study prepared by Philip Robinson, Head of Estates & Facilities in Cumbria Constabulary, can be found at the Home Office’s publication “Police Buildings: Design Policy”

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