The firm unveiled three standardised custody suite designs after completing 50+ cell custody suites for forces in Newcastle, Sheffield, Birmingham and South Wales. 

Police forces are presently investing heavily in larger custody suites to create better working environments for staff and detainees and provide more efficient use of property that will save millions in running costs each year.

In the case of South Yorkshire, the police force expects its new purpose-built 50 cell centre in Sheffield to replace inefficient custody suites in Rotherham and Sheffield and save £1.2 million a year in running costs.

Likewise, West Midlands Police expects its new 60 cell Central Custody Suite in Perry Bar to save the force £1.3 million per year.

Now Willmott Dixon has developed the standardised offering called CODE with a range of pre-designed custody suites to suit different police force budgets and requirements.

Anthony Dillon, managing director at Willmott Dixon Construction said: “CODE has been developed with expert partners NORR architects, the UKs most experienced custody design practice and also in conjunction with the Home Office to produce standardised designs.”

CODE has three models; Alpha providing up to 28 cells, Bravo up to 36 cells and Charlie for forces that require more than 36 cells

Willmott Dixon has pledged to deliver all CODE projects to a fixed cost, timescale, quality and minimum risk

It follows the success of the Sunesis standardised school concept developed with Scape Group that has seen over 25 primary schools built in three years across the country providing over 9,000 new places for a fixed cost and time scale.