Police Custodial Kent McBains

Next week the inaugural Blue Light Estates Development Conference is set to bring together those at the forefront of estates, property and facilities management at our Emergency Services – including Police, Ambulance and Fire & Rescue. We’re set to hear about the future vision for our services estates portfolios – with new regeneration and development set to happen, the consolidation of local services into huge new and technologically advanced facilities, the disposal of under used or derelict sites and much more.

Ahead of the event we hear exclusively from one of the companies involved – McBains – who’re working alongside the emergency services on several schemes to deliver exceptional facilities to benefits our emergency services and the communities they support:
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McBains is one of the leading property and construction consultancies in the UK – tell us a little more about the business?

McBains specialises in the delivery of an inter-discipline service; providing fully integrated design solutions (architecture, mechanical / electrical, structural / civil) alongside cost and project management, as well as health and safety, BREEAM and technical advisory services.

We have been tailoring solutions for the blue light sector for the past 17 years. Our experience covers the design of a wide range of projects from significant multi-functional buildings, headquarters and custody suites to small constrained city centre developments.

Our teams also have significant experience in extending the life of existing buildings through refurbishment and extension; bringing facilities up to current standards and developing design solutions that are flexible and efficient, reflecting the needs of modern policing. Our most recent developments have sought to integrate modern methods of working as part of the concept and strategy, often reducing the accommodation requirements.

 

The Blue Light sector is an area which you’re heavily involved in, with Greater Manchester Police, Metropolitan Police and South Yorkshire Police just some of a long list of clients. In a sector with tight budgetary constraints how do you deliver such great value for money on the projects you work on?

We are used to working within tight budgetary constraints and recognise the need for efficiency in the use of space and the importance of value for money.

We believe in listening carefully to the client team, engaging in constructive dialogue over the emerging brief, challenging when necessary and proactively working to develop design concepts that meet, but more often exceed expectations.

McBains does not have a ‘house style’ – our aim is to develop design solutions that are timeless, that can flex and evolve with the end user.  We promote the adoption of an agile working model.  This allows a reduction in the overall floor space, saving money and provides facilities which are more flexible to meet ever-changing operational requirements.

We want buildings to be naturally efficient, robust yet elegant and commercially viable.  We learn from each and every project, and feed that back into our designs for future schemes.

 

You have a long history of developing solutions within the Blue Light sector, but recently there has been a real focus on a more strategic Tri-Light collaborative approach. What changes has this brought around in the way you approach projects?

The Tri-Light collaborative approach has been reflected in our most recent developments through flexibility. Primarily through flexibility in the organisation of the building; giving greater emphasis to fallow zones which can be occupied by third party agencies including Fire and Ambulance teams, but also extending to flexibility in the IT infrastructure, solutions and more varied working environments, as staff adopt a more flexible approach to work.

Moving forward we expect to see a greater focus on solutions which reflect more of a ‘community approach’, with less focus on a ‘police facility’ and more on a building with a range of community functions.

 

The Blue Light Estates Development Conference will bring together hundreds of professionals from across the industry to discuss, debate and share knowledge. Why is it such an important date in the diary?

The conference provides a unique and invaluable opportunity to bring together a wide range of representatives from across the industry to share best practice, insights and emerging trends.

With industry leaders, decision makers and influencers attending from both the private and public sectors, the event facilitates discussion and collaboration that will drive future successes and efficiencies within the industry.

 

The Blue Light Estates Development Conference takes place in London on the 20th November.

You can register for tickets or further information here.
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