Conlon Construction has completed the transformation of Longsight Police Station’s custody suite, delivering Greater Manchester Police’s largest and most advanced facility of its kind.
The multi-million-pound upgrade, procured through the North West Construction Hub Framework, has redefined custody provision at the station, intended to enhance operational efficiency while providing a modern environment designed to support safety and dignity for detainees.
Strategically located near Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court, the redeveloped suite is designed to support efficient detainee processing.
The project has reconfigured and modernised the existing facility to provide 44 high-specification custody cells, designed to meet both current operational requirements and future demand.
Safety, wellbeing and accessibility have been central to the design, with upgraded anti-ligature measures across all cells, new WC and wash-hand basin facilities, enhanced CCTV, intercom, fire alarm and lighting systems, and dedicated facilities for juvenile detainees.
Internally, the ancillary areas were fully reconfigured to create a new raised charge desk, expanded interview rooms, upgraded medical accommodation, and a dedicated forensic medical facility. The existing van dock was also enlarged to improve efficiency. In addition, a bespoke fire and smoke ventilation strategy serving the cell and corridor areas was developed in collaboration with fire consultants and building control. While carefully planned, close coordination between GMP and Conlon was essential throughout, as the site remained fully operational during the works.
As part of its commitment to social value and sustainability, Conlon prioritised a refurbishment-led approach to reduce embodied carbon, alongside the reuse of existing structural elements, recycling of demolition materials, and the use of reclaimed aggregate within the new ground floor slab. The project also supported local employment, with 80 percent of the workforce sourced from within 30 miles of the site, alongside apprenticeship and T Level placements for students at The Manchester College.
Guy Parker, Chair and Managing Director at Conlon, said:
“This is exactly the type of project Conlon is built for, complex, operationally critical and delivered in a live, highly sensitive environment where precision, planning and certainty of delivery are non-negotiable.
“Our experience delivering GMP’s Strategic Operational Command Hub in Manchester, alongside projects such as Skelmersdale and Bamber Bridge Police Stations and Manchester’s Coroners Court, meant we understood from day one the standards required and the operational pressures that come with maintaining a fully functioning custody environment throughout construction.
“Longsight is about more than upgrading facilities. It is about futureproofing a critical part of GMP’s estate and delivering a custody suite that enhances safety, efficiency and resilience for the long term.”
