High point for chief
A topping-out ceremony was held
to mark the completion of the
highest point of the new Greater
Manchester Police headquarters
in Central Park, Newton Heath.
Police leaders and partners
gathered on the rooftop of the new
building to watch Chief Constable
Peter Fahy and vice-chair of Greater
Manchester Police Authority,
Gloria Oates, secure a golden bolt
and sign the final piece of steel.
The building contractors placed
the traditional evergreen yew
branch on the structure to symbolise
growth and to bring good luck.
Peter Fahy (pictured second left)
said: “This modern, fit-for-purpose
headquarters will encourage
team-working and improve communication
to enable us to work
more efficiently and get the most
value from our tightening budget
so we can, in turn, spend more on
front-line policing. It’s great to see
the future taking shape before my
eyes.”
The £6 million, 240,000 sq ft
force HQ will be a highly sophisticated
office building, with a
BRE Environmental Assessment
Method rating aspiring to reach
Excellent. Coloured glass and a
Portland-stone look will be key
features of the six-storey building,
which will glow blue at night.
More than 1,000 police officers
and staff are expected to be working
from the new HQ towards the
end of 2011.
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