Accommodation at Alperton for Northwest Traffic and Territorial Support Group

Report: 5
Date: 04 April 2002
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report considers the accommodation requirements for the North West Traffic OCU and Territorial Support Group OCU and seeks approval to the operational building strategy for the construction of new buildings at the existing Alperton Traffic Unit. This will rationalise accommodation for the North West OCUs in modern buildings that meet operational requirements.

A. Recommendations

1. Members note the business case for rationalisation and improvement of Traffic OCU and TSG OCU accommodation in the North West as a part of the overall restructuring of Territorial Policing for London;
2. Members determine whether to endorse the recommendation in support of Option 2 in the Investment Appraisal, and if so;
3. support the proposal to demolish all existing structures and construct new buildings at the existing Alperton Traffic Unit;
4. on completion of the building works, sell the existing Finchley Traffic Unit; and
5. Members note that necessary adjustments will be made to the medium term capital programme 2002/3 to 2005/6 to reflect cost changes to the project and will be submitted to Finance, Planning and Best Value Committee (FPBV) for ratification.

B. Supporting information

1. This paper summarises the Business Case and Investment Appraisal for the rationalisation and improvement of accommodation for the North West Traffic OCU and TSG OCU.

2. This project commenced life, and was originally introduced into the capital programme, as a project at Hendon Training Estate. The reorganisation of structures of Traffic and TSG, together with new pressures on the estate at Hendon, brought about a change of preferred location to Alperton. This has resulted in adjustments to costs and accommodation. The Business Cases produced by the North West Traffic and TSG OCUs (building users) are attached at Appendix 1 and detail current deficiencies in the accommodation and explain operational requirements. In consultation with the OCUs, the selected option has been endorsed as of high priority.

3. The Investment Appraisal (Summarised at Appendix 3 of the exempt paper: and available full to Members only) explains the operational strategy for Territorial Policing for the Metropolitan Police District following restructuring in year 2000. It considers the background issues and accommodation needs in North West London and concludes that the best value option would be to demolish all existing structures at the existing Alperton Traffic Unit and construct new buildings for Traffic and TSG.

4. Eight options are considered in the Investment Appraisal (following Home Office guidelines) which, for reasons explained in the Appraisal, have been reduced to three viable alternatives to provide accommodation for Traffic and TSG serving North West London, namely:

• Option One. Alteration, extension and refurbishment works to the existing Alperton Traffic Unit;
• Option Two. Demolish existing buildings at Alperton Traffic Unit and construct new; and
• Option Three. Purchase a site and construct a new building.

5. The recommended option (Option Two) was based upon the following factors:

• The existing site in Alperton is ideally located for the Traffic and TSG operations and is large enough to accommodate the required building(s) and vehicle parking.
• It rationalises accommodation for North West Territorial Policing at one location, thereby releasing the existing Finchley Traffic Unit for sale.
• Sale proceeds from the existing Finchley Traffic Unit will partly offset the cost of building works at Alperton and disposal of this site will provide savings in annual building running costs. Estimated values are provided in the Exempt paper.
• The other options were considered unsuitable because they: would not provide the required level or quality of accommodation; are not in the preferred location; are impracticable and expensive; would require a relatively long time period to action; and are inconsistent with the Operational Building Strategy;
• Although the recommended option has a slightly higher initial capital cost than Option One, for alteration, extension and refurbishment of existing Alperton Traffic Unit, it is considered to provide better value from having new, purpose built accommodation.

C. Financial implications

1. The users have confirmed that the project remains of high priority. Provision for the project was included in the medium term capital programme 2002/3 to 2005/6 approved by MPA Finance, Planning and Best Value Committee at the meeting on 17 January. It will be necessary to make adjustments to the costs included in budgets to reflect updated works estimates priced by the consultant Quantity Surveyors which include more detailed estimates on the provision of essential services (gas, electricity, etc.) and on perimeter security. Other necessary changes include the higher construction standards required by Part 'L' of the Building Regulations and the MPA objective to achieve BREEAM. Expenditure will be contained within the overall medium term capital programme through re-prioritisation of some works. Actual cost changes are identified in the exempt paper.

2. The capital costs (including fees and an allowance for communications and IT infrastructure works) for redevelopment of the Alperton Traffic Unit site will be subject to a competitive two stage tendering process with partnering and the estimates are in the exempt paper.

3. There would be a substantial reduction in annual running costs for the North West Traffic and TSG accommodation following the disposal of Finchley Traffic Unit and further details are given in the Exempt paper.

4. The cost of building works at Alperton has mainly been included in the approved capital programme for 2003/04 and 2004/05, but with a relatively small amount of expenditure in 2002/03.

5. The sale of Finchley Traffic Unit is expected in year 2004/05 and further details are given in the exempt paper.

D. Background papers

• First Stage Investment Appraisal (available to Members only)
• Operational Building Strategy (OBS) – 1990
• OBS Annual Review and Update – 2001/02

E. Contact details

Report author: Trevor Lawrence, Director Property Services Department, MPS.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Appendix 1: User's Business Case

The following are attached:

1. Business case from North West Traffic (TDQ).
2. Rationale for TSG Relocation from TDS to TDQ.

Relocation of North West Traffic Unit

North West Traffic Unit is a self-contained unit comprising of approximately 120 officers and civilian support staff. The building at Athlon Rd, Alperton is located in an industrial site and was purpose built as a traffic garage in the 1960s. It is within 1 mile of the main A40 & A406 arterial routes, offering good access to the North West London policing area. It should be highlighted that it is also near to the Hanger Lane Gyratory System (HLGS) a notorious traffic congestion location at peak periods.

The current building is in urgent need of modernisation and repairs due to severe subsidence problems. Early indications are that extensive building work will be required and some demolition work carried out. The outlined plans are that 2 TSG will be re-housed within the complex at TDQ once improvements to the building have been carried out.

I understand that 2TSG are preparing a separate business case; I will therefore provide a business case for the traffic unit only.

Building users:
North West Traffic is the prime user of the site at TDQ together with a civilian support staff.

North West Traffic provides a traffic response to the North West area of Greater London both reactive and proactive. The unit comprises of 2 reliefs providing a 24 hour response; Collision Investigation Unit for all fatal and potentially fatal road traffic collisions (CIU); Traffic intelligence unit (TIU); Auto Crime Focus desk; Commercial vehicle unit; traffic management and a proactive tasking unit.

Also accommodated within the unit is the GATSO speed enforcement team for North London. The total work force is approximately 120 people including police and civilian staff. This figure is constantly being reviewed and may be subject to an increase if the policing area is enlarged to include the London Borough of Haringey and Heathrow Airport. (This is a likely option currently being discussed)

Operational policing needs:

• Undercover parking for operational police vehicles; 4 X 4, traffic cars & motor cycles.
• Located within easy reach of main arterial road net work
• Sufficient office accommodation (see grid below)
• LGV & PCV examination area.

Alteration & improvement work:
Total modernisation and refurbishment required.

Health & safety:
Early indications are that ½ of the complex will need to be completely rebuilt while the remainder will require extensive improvements including; re-roofing, glazing, plumbing and electrical improvements.

Due to the nature and extent of the building work anticipated (dust, debris, heavy plant equipment, excessive noise), it is also believed that the roof contains elements of asbestos and will require specialist operations and equipment for safe removal. It would not be practicable to continue to use the unit as an operational base while this extensive work is carried out.

Business case TDQ

Why traffic needs to decant during building works.

The rebuilding of TDQ requires the removal of all staff to other sites because of the Health and Safety aspect of the work.

Early indications are that half of the complex will need to be completely rebuilt while the remainder will require extensive improvements including; re-roofing, glazing, plumbing and electrical improvements.

Due to the nature and extent of the building work anticipated (dust, debris, heavy plant equipment, excessive noise) it is also believed that the roof contains elements of asbestos and will require specialist operations and equipment to safely remove it.

Any staff left on the site during this operation could be exposed to asbestos dust, and the health problems, which could result from this.

The area of TDQ, which has office space, has a subsidence problem and will be demolished, meaning staff will have to work from temporary accommodation and have to go in and out via the building site with added risks of accidents and damage to Police property (vehicles, bikes).

Alperton has only one side where vehicles can enter/exit; so all personnel and equipment will be using the same entrance as the building company employers and equipment.

Security is also a concern as with all building sites there is a risk of unauthorised persons gaining entry to the site.

Rationale for TSG Relocation from TDS to TDQ

TSG2 currently located at TDS Finchley have been asked to relocate to TDQ by PSD HQ Accommodation in order for them to ameliorate the MPS Estate and dispose of TDS. This has not been a move actively sought by TSG personnel and will inevitably raise a number of issues.

The TSG structure has had a number of alterations over the last year. This together with the introduction of new equipment, responsibilities and working practices has put considerable pressure on existing accommodation. In the longer term had the unit been staying at TDS then a number of potentially costly alterations would need to have been made in order to meet operational requirements and health and safety requirements. Some minimal work will have to be undertaken in the meantime.

It is therefore imperative that any new accommodation meets all TSG current requirements and allows for future development. An accommodation schedule of requirements has been submitted to PSD.

• TSG (Support) HQ: Janet Mayell
• 11 February 2002: Finance & Resource Manager for Ch Supt Webb

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