Hertfordshire Police's new HQ: designed with officer wellbeing in mind

9 September 2026

Hertfordshire Police has officially opened its new headquarters following a major redevelopment project which has transformed the force’s former 1960s base into a purpose-built facility designed around modern policing, collaboration and wellbeing.

The new headquarters, known as part of Project Phoenix, has been more than two-and-a-half years in the making, with demolition of the old building beginning in December 2023.

The completed site can accommodate up to 1,000 people and includes hundreds of desks, three wings and more than 20 meeting rooms, ranging from smaller rooms for four to six people to larger spaces capable of accommodating up to 100.

The building was officially opened by the Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Robert Voss, with the Chief Constable, police officers, staff, cadets and other guests in attendance.

Branch chair Luke Mitchell (left) and secretary Dean Cornish at the opening
of the new Hertfordshire Police HQ

For Luke Mitchell, chair of Hertfordshire Police Federation, the opening marks a significant milestone, and the Federation has supported it throughout the project.

He said the new headquarters was about much more than simply replacing an ageing building: “This is a significant moment for the Hertfordshire Police family.

“This new building is hugely impressive, with a huge focus on wellbeing. The investment here is about more than just bricks and mortar. It is about creating a space for officers to eat, socialise and have some time to themselves.”

The new headquarters includes a large open-plan canteen, gym, prayer room, dedicated parents’ room with baby-changing facilities and private space for breastfeeding or expressing milk, breakout areas and dedicated wellbeing spaces.

New facilities

Luke said the facilities represent an important opportunity to rebuild some of the social interaction he believes policing has lost.

“One of the things policing has lost, I feel, is the ability to meet and talk and, in some cases, debrief and check in on one another,” he said.

“This building allows that. The space is incredible.”

He also highlighted the importance of face-to-face interaction and the benefits of simply spending time with colleagues.

Old Police motorbikes on show at the new HQ

“Socialising is healthy. Face-to-face socialising is even healthier,” he said, adding: “After all, some of the best conversations and ideas come out of a coffee in a canteen.”

The open-plan canteen lets officers and staff order food and drinks or cook their own, while the gym is available to both officers and police staff.

Luke said providing an on-site gym could also help staff financially by removing the need for a separate gym membership.

The Federation has supported the Force throughout the development of the new headquarters, intended as a purpose-built facility for modern-day policing.

Headquarters

Luke said the project was also part of a wider look at the force’s estate, rather than simply an investment in the headquarters.

He described the development as part of a cultural shift, encouraging officers and staff to prioritise their time effectively and make use of the facilities available to them.

“Go for a coffee, take a walk, have a break - this building facilitates that,” he said.

Built by local construction company Wilmott Dixon, the new HQ can accommodate up to 1,000 people and contains hundreds of desks across three wings.

Branch chair Luke Mitchell at the new Police HQ

There are more than 20 meeting rooms, ranging from smaller rooms designed for four to six people through to spaces capable of accommodating up to 100.

The building has been designed to support flexible working and collaboration, while providing dedicated spaces for officers and staff to step away from their working environment when they need to.

The project has also placed a strong emphasis on sustainability and creating a future-ready workplace.

The development is designed around the criteria required for WELL Platinum certification, which focuses on areas including air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind and community.

Wellbeing

Outside the building, the site includes allotments, beehives and an orchard, further reflecting the focus on wellbeing and the environment.

Chief Constable Andy Prophet also praised the transformation during the official opening.

He described it as, in his 31 years in policing, ‘the best building by about 1,000 miles’ that he had ever worked in.

“This is an incredible building,” he said. “The technology, the design, the innovation, and environmental considerations are absolutely top-drawer, 21st-century.”

But he also echoed Luke's view that the building's importance went beyond its physical structure.

“The magic of this building is not just the wall of the thing that it is, but it’s the space and the environment that it creates. By providing such high quality facilities to staff it will ensure they are able to continue to provide a first class service to the community we serve” he said.

Community groups

The Chief Constable said the building would help support the force’s culture and its mission of preventing crime, catching criminals and protecting communities.

He also stressed that the building should not be viewed solely as a workplace for police officers, hoping that community groups, emergency service colleagues, partners, councils, faith leaders, charities, schools and colleges would all become regular visitors.

The new headquarters also contains a display created by the Hertfordshire Police Historical Society, showcasing items from the history of Hertfordshire Police.

It provides a reminder of the organisation’s long history while sitting inside a building designed firmly for its future.

Luke mentioned that this was part of a wider approach, that involved investment at other stations including Hemel and Watford.

“The plan is to ensure all areas of the entire estate are improved to the standard of the new HQ building,” he explained.

Diary

October 2026