New police station takes shape with topping out ceremony

A topping out ceremony has been held to mark the highest point of the build of Milton Police Station.

Officers and staff from Cambridgeshire Constabulary were joined by the Police and Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston, alongside contractors Willmott Dixon at the site of the new station on Friday (9 May).

Mr Preston and Chief Constable Nick Dean signed the final piece of internal parapet cement board to the main roof to celebrate completion of the main construction phase.

The steel framework is in place and exterior walls are going up in the custody suite, giving a clear view of the building’s final footprint.

The external facades, inclusive of windows and doors, will be completed in the coming weeks to create a wind and watertight building. Work will then focus on the interior with the installations of ventilation, heating, plumbing and fire protection measures.

Towards the end of the year the buildings will be internally fitted out, ICT and decorative finishes will be completed before finally undertaking commissioning and testing of all the facilities and services, training ready for officers and staff to move over in Spring 2026.

Externally the road network is now being laid and landscaping will start to ensure planting and trees can begin establishing before the move in date.

As part of the topping-out ceremony Willmott Dixon presented a Yew tree to the PCC, as owner of the estate, as is tradition to bestow good luck and longevity of life to the building and prepare for its arrival.

The new building will replace Parkside Police Station which was constructed in the 1960s and is beyond its functional age as a police facility, with insufficient numbers of cells that are not of the standard expected in policing today.

Chief Constable Nick Dean said: “I was hugely impressed during the tour, it is set to be a great facility. With the structure taking shape, we can see how the working environment will provide a modern, sustainable workspace that will enhance the well-being of officers and staff who will serve there.

“It will also help us meet the needs of our ever-growing population, enable us to respond to calls for service more efficiently and better respond to the challenges of modern-day policing.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire, Darryl Preston, added: “The event was an important milestone for our policing service and one I am delighted to celebrate.

“The new station will enable the Constabulary to meet the demands of our growing communities, particularly in the south of the county while providing a more accessible base with better road access.

“I would like to thank everyone involved for getting the build to this stage.”

Steve Kitchen, Director at Willmott Dixon said: “Topping out marks a proud moment for everyone involved, we’re honoured to be delivering a future-proof, sustainable facility that will support modern policing and serve the community for generations. We look forward to the continues progression of the project as we move towards successful completion.”

Plans to have a city centre presence remains and the Constabulary are currently looking at suitable locations to provide space for city centre neighbourhood policing including a desk for public enquiries. No decision has been made on the future of Parkside.