Strategic Command Centre

The aspiration for a purpose-built SCC at Penrith has existed for a number of years, and in parallel, the Constabulary has been reviewing its estate. An emergency service “campus” has developed at Police HQ with the recent addition of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service HQ at Kemplay Bank roundabout. Both bases are frequently used for resilience activity, with each possessing a suite of meeting rooms, and each retaining a single agency strategic command facility. The campus is therefore flexible, though capability and capacity are limited, and it is highly desirable to develop the campus concept as an enabler of daily multi-agency working, including a joint response .

It is envisaged the SCC will have a useable floor area of approximately 1000m² and the police operational useable floor area of 600m². A design concept shows a building over three floors with the SCC forming the first floor accommodation. To the third floor a small hostel facility will be provided. To balance and promote a cost effective cohesive design a more even spread of accommodation will be provided over the ground and first floor. Specifically much of the SCC will be heavily serviced with essential generator and UPS provision. The police operational accommodation by its nature will be less heavily serviced and require less complex supporting systems.