Every police force relies on buildings that support day-to-day operations, from specialist units and training facilities to frontline services. As operational needs evolve, many organisations are reviewing how their estates can best support the people who use them.
The challenge is no longer simply maintaining buildings. It is about creating operational environments that support modern policing, improve efficiency and deliver value for communities.
Gloucestershire Constabulary's Operational Hub at Bamfurlong is a good example of this in practice. Delivered by Willmott Dixon through Procurement Hub's Major Projects Framework, the project created a dedicated operational base designed around the force's current and future requirements.
Bringing Operational Functions Together
For organisations operating across multiple sites, bringing services together can offer significant benefits.
That was the thinking behind Gloucestershire Constabulary's Operational Hub at Bamfurlong, delivered by Willmott Dixon through Procurement Hub's Major Projects Framework.
The £12.8 million development created a new operational hub for the force, bringing together specialist policing functions that had previously been spread across a number of locations.
The project included a purpose built operational building alongside new kennels and equine facilities, creating a dedicated base for operational teams.
By bringing these services together in one location, the force was able to create a facility designed around how teams work today, while providing a long term home for key operational functions.
The Value of Early Collaboration
Successful projects are shaped long before construction begins.
Early engagement allows organisations to explore options, refine requirements and identify potential challenges before major decisions are made.
By working closely with clients from the outset, project teams can help develop solutions that balance operational requirements, expectations and budget considerations.
For public sector construction projects, early collaboration can help:
Improve cost certainty
Identify opportunities for efficiencies
Reduce project risk
Strengthen stakeholder engagement
Support informed decision making
Taking the time to establish clear objectives at the beginning of a project often leads to better outcomes during delivery.
What Was Delivered?
The £12.8 million project delivered:
A new operational hub building
Purpose built kennels
New equine facilities
External infrastructure and associated works
A dedicated base for specialist operational teams
Together, these facilities created a modern operational hub designed to support Gloucestershire Constabulary's day to day activities while providing capacity for future requirements.
Delivering More Than a New Facility
Alongside the new operational hub, the project delivered wider benefits for the local community.
During construction, local businesses were engaged throughout the supply chain and significant investment was retained within the local economy. The project also transformed a former brownfield site into a modern operational facility, helping bring previously underused land back into productive use.
For public sector organisations, outcomes like these are becoming an increasingly important part of project success. Construction is no longer measured solely by what is built, but also by the wider impact it leaves behind.
Alongside the completed facility, the project delivered benefits for the local community, helping maximise the value of public investment.
As expectations around social value continue to grow, organisations are increasingly looking for partners who can deliver both high quality facilities and meaningful community benefits.
Creating Estates That Support Future Policing
Technological advances and changing workforce requirements both influence how operational facilities are designed and used.
As a result, estate investment decisions must consider not only current requirements but also future flexibility.
The Operational Hub at Bamfurlong was designed to support Gloucestershire Constabulary's current requirements while providing flexibility for the future.
By bringing specialist functions together in a purpose-built facility, the force has created a dedicated operational base that supports day to day activities and provides a long-term home for key services.
Projects like this show how estate investment can deliver more than new buildings. When facilities are designed around the people who use them, they can help improve ways of working, support collaboration and provide lasting value for organisations and the communities they serve.
Accessing Expertise Through MPF2
Choosing the right procurement route is an important part of any major construction project.
The Gloucestershire Operational Hub was delivered through Procurement Hub's Major Projects Framework, bringing together the expertise of Willmott Dixon and the wider project team to deliver a complex operational facility.
Today, organisations can access similar expertise through Procurement Hub's Major Projects Framework 2 (MPF2).
MPF2 provides a compliant route to market for major construction and infrastructure projects, helping organisations engage experienced delivery partners early and develop projects with greater confidence.
For police forces, fire and rescue services and other blue light organisations, this can help accelerate project delivery while maintaining a focus on quality, value and operational outcomes.
Projects like Bamfurlong demonstrate how collaborative delivery and the right procurement route can help turn ambitious plans into successful outcomes.