Improvements to Police HQ

Thomas Consulting have been appointed by West Mercia Police to improve and extend parking facilities at Malinsgate Police Headquarters. We used Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDs) with only some 27 parking spaces constructed using traditional macadam. due to their gradient and proximity to the existing internal roads.

We were tasked with alleviating a serious parking congestion problem. The original facilities only provided designated parking for 160 vehicles for 158 civilian staff, 187 officers and visitors. We had to utilise the available space to its maximum potential and also ensure minimal disruption. The design was also required to have low environmental impact.

We achieved an additional 106 car parking spaces by extending the car parking spaces. In doing this we retained the maximum number of trees on site, consequently preserving existing wildlife habitats. A small number of trees were removed but additional planting areas have been provided in new open areas.

Improvements in disabled parking and access have also been achieved in accordance with current Building Regulations Document Part M ‘Access to and use of buildings’.

By using Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDs) our design was able to construct all but 27 of the parking places with a permeable gravel paving system. The system consisting of low density polyethylene grids with aggregates infill. The grids are made from 100% recycled material.

The photograph illustrates the original parking problems.

Thomas Consulting have been able to re-assess parking and traffic arrangements on a number of existing sites including supermarkets and provide improved parking and access arrangements.