Thames Valley Police Forensic Services Centre, Bicester

A landmark completion for policing in the Thames Valley

Willmott Dixon has completed and handed over the £34m Forensic Services Centre in Bicester, Oxfordshire, for Thames Valley Police. Practical completion was reached in July 2026 and marked with an event hosted by the force, where project partners, contractors and police colleagues gathered to see responsibility for the building formally transferred from Willmott Dixon to Thames Valley Police.

Procured through the Southern Construction Framework, the centre is the flagship building within the force's Forensic Improvement Programme – a multi-year investment to transform forensic services, improve investigations and deliver better outcomes for victims. It replaces facilities that had reached the end of their economic life and were no longer suited to modern forensic practice, bringing dispersed teams together under one roof for the first time.

A building designed around forensic science

The three-storey, 4,703m² centre provides a modern working environment for around 200 staff. Designed alongside AtkinsRéalis in close consultation with the forensic teams who will use it, the building brings laboratories, digital forensics, crime scene investigation and dedicated training facilities into a single, secure base. Co-locating these critical services allows the force to provide forensic capability at the point of need while meeting its statutory regulatory requirements.

The design is organised around a full-height central atrium, a deliberate response to the force's ambition for greater collaboration between multi-disciplinary teams. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows draw daylight deep into the building and connect the interior with the surrounding Oxfordshire landscape, while roof terraces, landscaping and generous breakout spaces support staff wellbeing – a genuine differentiator in a sector where working environments have often lagged behind operational need.

What we delivered

• Purpose-built forensic laboratories, replacing outdated and dispersed facilities.
• Digital forensics and crime scene investigation accommodation, co-located with the laboratories.
• Dedicated on-site training facilities for staff and students, supporting recruitment, retention and skills growth.
• A full-height central atrium connecting all three floors and driving collaboration between teams.
• Floor-to-ceiling glazing, roof terraces, breakout spaces and landscaping designed around staff wellbeing.
• Extensive external works and landscaping, with significant planting, hedgerows and trees between the building and Howes Lane.

Sustainability and technical delivery

The centre is a BREEAM Excellent scheme with low-carbon design aspirations, delivered within the Bicester eco-town development. The building uses an in-situ reinforced concrete primary frame with a cold-rolled steel secondary frame, and was delivered to BIM Level 2. High-quality materials and finishes were specified with whole-life environmental impact in mind, and careful integration of structural and services systems was used to improve building performance and reduce operational energy.

Throughout construction the team worked to minimise disruption to neighbours and the surrounding environment – managing dust, noise and mud, monitoring conditions at the site boundary, wheel-washing all vehicles leaving site and co-ordinating deliveries outside peak school-run times. Local skills were built into delivery, with apprenticeship and T Level placements provided on the project.

One of the strongest blue light portfolios in the industry

The Forensic Services Centre adds to a blue light track record few contractors can match. Willmott Dixon recently completed the UK's first police headquarters designed to achieve WELL Platinum for Hertfordshire Constabulary in Welwyn Garden City, and delivered Dorset Police's new BREEAM Very Good headquarters at Winfrith, officially opened by The Princess Royal. Other recent schemes include Kirklees Police Headquarters in Dewsbury for West Yorkshire Police, Pendle Police Station for Lancashire Constabulary, a police station for Cambridgeshire Constabulary, headquarters buildings for Humberside and Merseyside Police, a custody suite for Bedfordshire Police, a purpose-built training facility for South Wales Police, and fire stations and training centres for West Sussex and Avon Fire & Rescue Services.

That experience matters. Blue light buildings carry demands that ordinary commercial offices do not – security, regulatory accreditation, specialist technical environments and highly specific operational adjacencies – and they must be delivered without disrupting a live emergency service. Bicester demonstrates our ability to translate those requirements into a building that works for the people inside it, on a framework, on budget and to a recognised sustainability standard.

What people are saying:

“We are really pleased to be handing over this project for Thames Valley Police and want to thank everyone for their hard work along the way, which has resulted in the delivery of a stand-out facility that will help to shape the force's forensic capability whilst enhancing wellbeing and collaboration for the discipline. Working closely with TVP throughout this project has meant that we were able to deliver a new facility that serves the needs of the force that will ultimately benefit both the department and the wider community.”

Richard Poulter, Managing Director, Willmott Dixon in the South

“Reaching Practical Completion is a proud and exciting moment for everyone involved in this project. It has been fantastic to see the vision for the new Forensic Services Centre become a reality, and I would like to thank all those who have played a part in getting us to this stage. Most importantly, this milestone brings us one step closer to welcoming my team into a facility designed to support them in delivering outstanding forensic services for years to come.”

Kay Hannam, Head of Forensic Services, Thames Valley Police

“This is a significant milestone for Thames Valley Police and one that reflects the commitment, collaboration and expertise of everyone involved. The new centre represents an investment in our people and our future capabilities, strengthening our ability to fight crime and serve victims, while also valuing our people through the provision of a modern, purpose-built working environment. I look forward to seeing the building come to life as colleagues move in over the coming months.”

Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs, Thames Valley Police

“SCF is proud to have supported Thames Valley Police in procuring this important investment through our framework. The project demonstrates the value of early contractor engagement, strong partnership working and a shared commitment to delivering exceptional outcomes. This new facility will provide a modern, resilient environment that supports the service's evolving forensic requirements for many years to come.”

James Wright, Head of SCF (SE&L)