14 Andrews Rd - Fleet Maintenance Depot - Security & Office Accommodation Works

In 2017 the Metropolitan Police Service Counter Terrorism Security Adviser undertook a review of the site's security. The site security arrangements were found to be inadequate, and the risk of large vehicles being stolen and used to carry out criminal and terrorist activity significant.

The Counter Terrorism Security Adviser made a set of recommendations to the Council to reduce this risk to an acceptable level. The key recommendations included improving the security around the existing vehicle entrance with the provision of secure fencing, a new vehicle barrier, a new pedestrian gate, and the relocation of the main office to the front of the building, adjacent to the entrance.

The lack of existing security, including the fact that the office is currently located at the rear of the building, also gives rise to operational H&S concerns. The first concern being that members of the public are able to wander on to the premises and into the vehicle servicing area unchecked with the very real potential for them to injure themselves. The second concern is the limited/non-existent separation of the vehicle servicing area from the site's ancillary space such as the office and stores areas. Delivery vehicles and individuals must cross the vehicle servicing area to get to the office and storage area.

The existing accommodation, office and staff, is basic but of an adequate standard, as can be seen from the photos at Appendix 2, however it is not DDA compliant. Any new accommodation built will need to be made DDA compliant due to Building Control regulations.

Scope of Works - In light of the security review, the Council drew up plans to implement all of the security recommendations, refurbish the redundant staff accommodation on the 1st floor and to make the new ground floor office accessible. These plans also had the added benefit of reducing the day-to-day H & S operational risks by reducing the chance that a member of the public could access the building and separate the ancillary areas from the workshop area.

The works also included moving the store room to the front of the building and installing the cabling needed for an MOT station to be installed at some point in the future. The cabling is for internet connection and power which are required to run diagnostic tests and vehicle lifts.