New £17.6m police training centre takes shape in Staffordshire
Morgan Sindall Construction’s Midlands business has marked a major construction milestone with a topping out ceremony on 18th March at the new Police Firearms Training Facility for Staffordshire Police – a development that will play a vital role in keeping communities across the county safe.
Procured through the Constructing West Midlands (CWM) framework and on track for completion in autumn 2026, the £17.6 million project represents Staffordshire Police’s long-term commitment to public protection.
The project has involved the demolition of existing outdated buildings and site clearance to make way for a modern, purpose-built facility designed to ensure officers are trained to the highest standards in a safe and controlled environment.
Once complete, the facility will include a 10-lane, 50-metre live-fire indoor range and a dedicated two-storey training hub. The facility will allow officers to prepare for complex and high-risk situations within a secure setting, ensuring they are fully equipped to respond effectively should the need arise. By strengthening training provision within the county, the project reinforces the police force’s ability to protect residents, businesses, and visitors across Staffordshire.
Wider works include improvements to site access, hard and soft landscaping, and the installation of an on-site substation, making sure the facility operates efficiently while remaining integrated within its surroundings.
In partnership with Morgan Sindall, Blue Sky Architects, Appleyard and Trew, DSSR Consulting Engineers and WML Consulting, the facility has been designed with safety and longevity at its core, creating a secure training environment that will serve the community for decades to come.
Throughout the project, Morgan Sindall has prioritised social value, engaging 11 local supply chain partners and supporting employment and training opportunities for 35 individuals within the region to date. The team is also supporting Care of Police Survivors (COPS), a charity providing support for bereaved families of police officers and staff who have lost their lives on duty.
Richard Fielding, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Midlands, said:
Reaching this topping out milestone is a real moment of pride for everyone involved in delivering this new Police Firearms Training Facility. The team has worked in close collaboration with Staffordshire Police to deliver a building that will support Armed Response Officers, and in turn, the Staffordshire community.
We’re immensely proud to be playing our part in creating a high-quality, safety-focused facility and very much look forward to completing the project later this year.”
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Ben Adams said:
The construction of Staffordshire Police’s firearms training facility is a significant investment in the force, and part of a wider estates plan to ensure its buildings are sustainable and future-proof.
The project will create a purpose-built facility which can meet the force’s firearms training needs for the next 30-40 years. Police firearms deployments in Staffordshire are relatively low, but when our communities need an armed response to keep them safe, it’s essential that firearms officers have the right training and facilities in place to deliver the highest quality service.
Morgan Sindall and their supply chain, our design consultants, and internal staff are all working hard to ensure the project continues smoothly. I’m looking forward to seeing the build progress through the summer and autumn, ready for the opening of the new firearms training facility at the end of the year.”
Acting Chief Constable Becky Riggs said:
I am delighted to see the progress we are making with our new firearms training facility.
We are fortunate to not have many firearms incidents in Staffordshire, but when they are needed, we must ensure our firearms officers are highly trained and effective. This new facility will mean we have officers with the highest quality training and assessment who can respond effectively to keep the communities of Staffordshire safe.
I look forward to seeing this facility in operation by the end of the year."
ENDS