GM Police buys second site from Ask:Goodman

Greater Manchester Police Authority has confirmed widely touted plans for a new divisional headquarters for North Manchester to be built at Central Park.

The £56m scheme follows the announcement last year of a new overall Force HQ, now on site at the same business park, being developed by Ask:Goodman.

David Burkinshaw, director at Ask Developments said: "Ask:Goodman welcomes the news from the GMPA that this deal has taken a major step forward. The creation of a new divisional headquarters for Greater Manchester Police, subject to the Government confirming the promised funding, is extremely positive for Central Park and we look forward to receiving formal approval in due course."

In addition, Collyhurst Police Station is to be refurbished, GMPA said, and a new city centre enquiry policing post will be created. Accommodation will be provided for a Neighbourhood Policing Team at Bradford Park under the plans put forward at a special GMPA meeting today.

Other features of the project include the closure of Bootle Street, Newton Heath and Grey Mare Lane police stations which no longer support the needs of a 21st Century police force.

GMPA chairman Cllr Paul Murphy said: "This deal has significant regeneration benefits for north east Manchester. It will also ensure North Manchester people have visible, easy to access police services and GMP employees have fit-for-purpose facilities. In short, better police services for the benefit of everyone.

"At today's meeting we heard that some of the funding elements which the scheme depends on are in place. Once we have received official confirmation, we will formally approve the project and sort the legal side of things."

Custody facilities at the sites earmarked for demolition and those at Collyhurst Police Station will be replaced by one facility to hold 30 cells on the same site as the new divisional HQ.

In addition, custody facilities for use by the North West Counter Terrorism Unit hub will also be located at Central Park.

A total of 12 CTU cells are planned and funding for 8 of them at a cost of almost £5m is to be provided by the Government's Office of Security and Counter Terrorism. Written confirmation of the contribution is expected shortly. Once it has been received, the project will be formally approved.

GMPA will provide funding for the remaining four cells and all the other elements of the reorganisation of North Manchester Division project. The authority contribution totals more than £51m.

Subject to final approval being given in the coming weeks, building work to create the new divisional HQ is expected to start in February. It is due for completion in September 2011.

The refurbishment of Collyhurst Police Station is set to begin in November 2011 and take 12 months to complete.

Both Bootle Street and Grey Mare Lane police stations are to be disposed of when market conditions are more favourable. The disposal of Newton Heath is expected in November 2011.

Cushman & Wakefield and Lambert Smith Hampton advise Ask:Goodman.