Willmott Dixon completes new West Yorkshire Police headquarters in Kirklees

By Danny BallPublished On: July 16th, 2026Categories: News, Rebuild, Top Stories

Willmott Dixon has completed the new West Yorkshire Police headquarters in Kirklees, with the flagship facility in Dewsbury now open to the public following handover earlier this year.

Delivered through the SCAPE Construction Framework, the new headquarters has been built on the former Kirklees College site on Halifax Road and replaces ageing police facilities that were no longer considered fit for modern operational requirements.

West Yorkshire Police formally took ownership of the building in the spring and has since been relocating officers and staff. Key operational teams are now based at the headquarters, while the public helpdesk and a new custody suite are fully operational.

A key feature of the project was the refurbishment and integration of the 19th-century Oldroyd building, formerly part of the Kirklees College campus, which has been retained at the centre of the new police headquarters.

Construction of a separate police station in Huddersfield is also continuing, with the facility on the former Nissan/Fiat site adjacent to Broadway scheduled to open later this year. The station will accommodate the Huddersfield South Patrol and neighbourhood policing teams currently based at Castlegate.

Chris Yates, Yorkshire director at Willmott Dixon, said: “It has been a pleasure to work in partnership with West Yorkshire Police and our valued local supply chain partners to deliver such an important project which will ensure officers have the modern facilities they need to keep the people of Kirklees safe.

“We’re proud to have restored important site heritage at the centre of the building, as well as the lasting legacy this project has created across the local community, including providing over 1,000 hours of volunteering support to local community projects, and strengthened pathways into employment.

“It has created multiple apprenticeship opportunities, delivering 942 apprenticeship weeks and providing a further 60 weeks of skills and training opportunities to support the next generation of skilled workers.”

Early contractor involvement supported project delivery

The project was procured through the SCAPE Construction Framework, with early contractor involvement used to assess options before construction began.

Mark Robinson, Group Chief Executive at SCAPE, said: “Through the SCAPE Construction framework, we worked in partnership with Willmott Dixon, from the earliest stages of the project, to enable early contractor involvement and feasibility assessments. This approach supported extensive optioneering across multiple sites, and ensured the ideal site and design were selected to deliver the best outcome for the client.”

West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Sir John Robins QPM DL said: “Residents in Kirklees deserve first class policing facilities in the heart of their communities. This new police headquarters represents a significant investment in the public service infrastructure of both Dewsbury and the wider district.

“It is well known that the existing police estate in Dewsbury was no longer fit for purpose, and this headquarters has been designed with modern policing needs in mind.

“The station offers the space and facilities to house the officers we need to police communities and to allow our teams to investigate the most serious and sophisticated offending.

“I want to pass on my thanks to all those who have worked so hard to build the new headquarters which be a home for policing in Kirklees for many years to come.”

Community investment and heritage recognised

Alison Lowe OBE, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime in West Yorkshire, said: “This new headquarters is a clear statement of our commitment to Kirklees and its communities. It helps ensure people can access support locally, while enabling a more joined-up approach to policing and prevention.

“Most importantly, it creates a stronger foundation for keeping residents safe and building trust in the long term.”

Chief Superintendent Jim Griffiths of Kirklees District Police added: “The site was very carefully chosen and our close work with Willmott Dixon has allowed for the creation a truly impressive new police headquarters.

“I’m personally delighted with the final building which provides our officers with up-to-date facilities while preserving the existing 19th century Oldroyd building which was present on site.

“It’s been a wonderful nod to the heritage of Dewsbury and Kirklees in general that we have been able to retain this historic structure and give it new purpose at the heart of the facility.”

Alongside the new operational facilities, the project delivered wider social value outcomes, including more than 1,000 hours of community volunteering, 942 apprenticeship weeks and an additional 60 weeks of skills and training opportunities to support people entering the construction industry.