We're delighted that our North Tyneside policing teams and staff will be working from this modern, fit-for-purpose police station. The building has been designed to meet the needs of Northumbria Police and the interiors supplied by Emergent Crown gives us the flexibility to work now and in the future.
Author Sue Sim Temporary Chief Constable
Northumbria Police

Creating the dream...

Northumbria Police have recently completed their Area Command headquarters in North Tyneside. This new £27 million building, located in Wallsend is a state-of-the-art facility that is the base for up to 300 North Tyneside police officers and staff and also has a custody suite with 40 cells. This is the first new police station to be built by Northumbria Police Authority for Northumbria Police in 10 years.

With community policing at the heart of the design, the building meets the needs of a modern police force. It will be open twenty-four hours a day, with on-site parking for visitors and excellent public transport links.

Concept to reality…

Stretching over three floors, the modern design is dominated by a glazed concourse that allows natural light into the heart of the building, making it a welcoming space for the public and the officers and staff based there. The largely open-plan office accommodation has been designed to meet the needs of a modern police force but is flexible and can be adapted and changed to meet any future requirements. The custody suite of 40 cells is one of the most innovative in the country

From the operational hub, sight lines are maximised to ensure custody safety and security in all areas. The building has been designed with strong green credentials and has achieved an internationally recognised BREEAM excellent rating for environmental sustainability. It has solar panels to heat domestic hot water and guttering that harvests rain water, which is reused in flushing toilets. There is also a bio-mass boiler that uses locally sourced wood pellets for heating.

“The new North Tyneside Area Command Headquarters will enable us to continue to deliver high quality policing services
the people of Tyneside expect.”


(Sue Sim, Temporary Chief Constable of Northumbria Police)

A dream come true…

The interior space was important. The large central atrium provided natural light from above, but The Northumbria Police needed the space to be bright and modern. Emergent proposed the use of contemporary White MFC tops on the Eye Cantilever desk within the Open Plan Areas, with matching meeting tables. 

The Eye range of electrical cable management was installed and close liaising with electrical contractors ensured that floor boxes were positioned where required.  Bespoke Desk Mounted electrical and data sockets were installed to compliment with the overall look and feel of the installation Wooden Side Opening Tambour cupboards, manufactured from White MFC with attractive silver closures were installed, to compliment the design of the furniture solution.

The Police however had a requirement for Managers and the associated Corporate Conference Suites to be of a perceived higher specification. Emergent proposed the warmer yet still modern Oak MFC finish to achieve this demarcation. The Call Centre area on the ground floor, which benefits from large amounts of natural light was proposed to be also be finished in Oak. The Police needed to further define individual teams within the large open plan areas. Emergent expertly achieved by the use of the colour. Series 20 Desk mounted screens were upholstered in six contrasting colours, which uniquely identified each team. These were installed in an alternating pattern to provide a highlighted “Accent” colour to the space, but did not create an overbearing wall of colour.

Each section also had its own Central Services Pod, which matched the coloured theme for the area. The design colour theme continued into the two café areas, where the interior design was enhanced by the quality furniture proposed by Emergent.

Stylish Vent ply shell Bistro Chairs with chrome frames were selected to combine with Jewel Bistro tables. The design solution proposed was unusual. Café furniture was positioned to be“spilling out” into the large atrium to provide a more welcoming Café environment. The Breakout areas were furnished with comfortable and stylish Wind range of soft seating and associated low tables, all upholstered to match the overall colour theme of the building.

“This new headquarters is a modern, fit for purpose police station and represents a huge investment in policing for the people who live, work and visit North Tyneside.”

(Councillor Mick Henry,
Chair of Northumbria Police Authority)