Met Police Service New Hendon Driving Academy

Client
Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)
Contractor
Value
£10.2m
Completion Date
March 2020

The new Hendon Driving Academy provides driver and investigative training for a wide variety of vehicles ranging from cars, motorbikes, mini buses, lorries to heavy goods vehicles (HGV). It includes classrooms with permanent training equipment in place, supplementary lockers to the main complex, changing facilities for approximately 120-160 staff and students daily, office accommodation, covered vehicle storage/inspection, workshop areas and fuel storage. There is also a requirement for a large yard area for use in various types of vehicle training maneuvers including HGV, hostile evasion techniques and slow speed “escort” motorbike training (the 175m “wobble road”).

The construction of the building itself comprises a light-weight single storey steel frame with insulated prefinished clad exterior. Front facing elevations are finished with a brick slip to match the local vernacular. Internal fit-out consists of drywall construction, suspended ceilings and full MEP systems. Substantial external works, including security fencing, soft and hard landscaping and tarmac vehicle training and testing areas surround the building.

The Challenge

The existing Met Driving Academy facilities located at Hendon are life expired and no longer fit for purpose. The old building is of poor condition and quality, with significant maintenance issues. Refurbishment to current standards and decant of training during construction proved to be uneconomic.

The Metropolitan Police Service appointed Mace via the SCF to deliver their new driving academy, the project represents a significant investment as part of the Met’s Estate Transformation Programme. The project was a follow on to the new training college which Mace successfully delivered in 2016.

The Solution

Positive relationships between all parties enabled the project to proceed smoothly through joined up decision making and a ‘can do’ approach. Agreeing early the project KPIs drove the project towards the goal of completion on time, with minor defects and final accounts completed as package contractors concluded their works.

The Results

Positive relationships between all parties have enabled the project to proceed smoothly through joined up decision making and a ‘can do’ approach.

Agreeing early the project KPIs is driving the project towards the goal of completion on time, with zero defects and final accounts completed as package contractors conclude their works.

Working with the supply chain in a two-stage environment has added value to both the design and construction. For example, the required security standards were already known by the supply chain contractors making delivery and the likelihood for error far reduced.

Apprentices

£712k.

Added Value

9/10

Client Satisfaction

Client Testimonials

”Our Hendon Training Centre has a reputation as one of the world’s leading police training facilities, with a long proud history. We will also create an opportunity for the remainder of the 73 acre site to be opened up for the benefit of the public at some point in the future.”

Jane Bond Director of Property Services for the Metropolitan Police

“The Mace team formed an excellent collaborative approach taking on board users’ needs and delivering a first-class project.”

Max Radford Programme Delivery Lead, Metropolitan Police Service

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Contractor Performance | Commitments

Fair

100% payment within 30 days terms

Sustainability

97% waste diverted from landfill

Safe

CCS Score 41/45

Aftercare

Handover & Aftercare Plan

Legacy

176 training weeks for Apprentices

The site team volunteered time in the adjacent Colindale Gardens development, helping to establish a nature trail and supporting general upkeep.

SCF Framework Manager

James Wright

Email: james.wright@hants.gov.uk

Phone: : 07761 330560

Contractor Framework Manager

David Chambers

Email: david.chambers@macegroup.com

Phone: 07789 514895

DIO Salisbury Basing Programme, Salisbury Plain

February 26, 2021/in Block, Brick, Homes/by Gabby Stevens

DIO Salisbury Plain Training Area Service Family Accommodation

Client
Defence Infrastructure Organisation
Contractor
Value
£260m
Completion Date
May 2020

Completed as part of the Army Basing Programme 2020, the project involved the construction and delivery of 917 Service Family Homes at Bulford (225) and Ludgershall (242) by February 2020 and at Larkhill (450) by May 2020 plus various off site highways projects. This collaborative form of contract had seen very little exposure within the housing market prior to this project but the parties engaged enthusiastically and with success.

The Challenge

The design utilised 6 core house types to provide Officer, Other Ranks and adapted living properties. The project spans 3 distinct sites, Bulford, Ludgershall and Larkhill and extensive Section 106 off site Highway works. The high-speed delivery of this project required the output rate in excess of industry norms, with an average handover rate of 16 houses per week, rising to 20 per week at peak output – a delivery rate unprecedented in UK low rise housing,

The Solution

Completed as part of the Army Basing Programme 2020, the delivery rate of this complex, high-volume, fast-track project is unprecedented in UK low rise housing. The was delivered by two timber frame providers working side by side collaboratively (not seen before in UK housing developments) which allowed a speed build of 22 weeks from foundations to superstructure, with an extensive acceptance process.

Collaborative procurement of this nature has seen very little exposure in the residential sector prior to this project. All parties engaged enthusiastically and with success, supported by a shared project office environment. The scheme benefitted from an open and fully collaborative working relationship fostered by DIO, WYG and Lovell.

The Results

Delivered on budget and on schedule, despite pressures from the COVID-19 pandemic, each site presented its own challenges. Extensive archaeology included a forgotten WW1 Practice Battlefield at Larkhill, found to be the largest ever archaeological exploration of such features anywhere in the world. Important historic finds were identified including a Stone Age Double Henge Form, now a registered English Heritage Scheduled Monument.

Despite the challenges, the joint project team succeeded in delivering an exemplary scheme that showcases innovative approaches in the build programme, pace of delivery and high-quality construction.