Although still providing an essential service to the Borough, Police Station House was a dilapidated 10 storey building comprising 144 low quality bedrooms with decaying and unused communal facilities. The site was unsecured and petty crime was rife. Funding for increased bedspaces and facilities was tied in with the operation of the building which, performing an essential service, needed to remain at least partially operative during any works.   

Retaining the main 10 storey central structure, two new-build 4-storey east and west wings were added, skirting the tower. The phases of construction shifted accommodation from the tower to the new wings, once complete. The rooms within the tower were subsequently refurbished and the capacity increased from 144 to 223 bedrooms.

Working to updated HCA guidance, with private facilities now preferred to the existing communal ones, ensuite bathrooms were provided to all new rooms. Taking this a step further and utilising MMC, bathroom pods were integrated into many of the rooms within the refurbishment tower significantly extending its operational use in the future.      

To maximise space for rooms and provide level access to all upper floors the existing core within the tower was refurbished and reconfigured, enabling access throughout the building without the need for any additional lifts. This adaptation was typical to the design approach, which employs an economy of everyday use, minimises maintenance, and significantly improving the shared environment in balance with the increased number of rooms.