Ground broken at the site of Pendle's new police station

Andrew Snowden, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, welcomed the start of construction work that will see the new, state-of-the-art police station taking the fight to criminals across Pendle.

At an event on Tuesday, Mr Snowden joined Supt Derry Crorken, operations manager for Burnley, Rossendale, Pendle and the Ribble Valley, to mark progress on the site, on Carr Road in Nelson, which will replace the dated stations in Colne and Nelson, and futureproof police infrastructure in the area.

Andrew Snowden joined Supt Derry Crorken, operations manager for Burnley, Rossendale, Pendle and the Ribble Valley at the new site in Carr Road, Nelson (Image: NQ Staff)

The new station, once complete, will provide a base for response and neighbourhood police briefings, and will be central to the communities of Pendle, being situated just off the M65 between junctions 12 and 13.

Supt Crorken said: “This is very exciting as it will be a state-of-the-art briefing base for police officers to be able to serve the community of Pendle.

“It will be a building fit for the 21st century and will provide a great working environment for people as well as being accessible to local residents.

“This is a once-in-a-generation project - the buildings in Colne and Nelson were old when I arrived 27 years ago, so this will be amazing.”

Supt Crorken said there were also plans in the pipeline to upgrade the police base in Chorley in the force’s South Division, with further plans in the future for a potential new station in Burnley, to replace the base in Parker Street.

Deputy Chief Constable Sacha Hatchett, Andrew Snowden and one of the developers from Wilmott Dixon (Image: NQ Staff)

He added: “Chorley is next on list. Then Burnley. But we have to look at how can we utilise what property we have and build on it for the future. 

“We could build something new in the centre of Burnley, or join Burnley and Blackburn together, but all of these are just options to explore and consider, and nothing is set in stone yet.”

The new police base is expected to open in 2026, with Colne and Nelson police station buildings being closed and sold off.

Supt Crorken has moved to reassure the public that there will still be a base in Colne under the guise of a drop-in centre, so residents can still have easy and readily available access to neighbourhood officers.

Willmott Dixon has been chosen to deliver the site, which will host policing teams including investigations, targeting teams and more, in addition to the response and neighbourhood policing teams.

There will also be a front counter, maintaining the service for Pendle as part of the crime commissioner’s commitment that every borough will have a police station open to the public.

Developers, members of Lancashire police and Mr Snowden at the site in Carr Road, Nelson (Image: NQ Staff)

Mr Snowden said: “This will secure a police station and an operating base in this area of Lancashire for decades to come.

“I’m really, really excited. This project was delayed before I got elected in the Covid years, and I made it my pledge and was determined when I got into office to make this project happen and to make this investment a reality.

“So I’m delighted today to be breaking the ground with the contractors, with the constabulary, to say here it is, the work has begun, the new station for Pendle is underway.”

Andrew Stephenson MP for Pendle said: "I welcome this multi-million pound investment into Pendle.

“As Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden has shown a real commitment to Pendle and investing in police stations across the county.

“This new station will give local police officers the modern state-of-the-art facilities they deserve."

Willmott Dixon Director Michael Poole-Sutherland said: “We are really proud to be able to play our part in ensuring Lancashire officers have the crucial facilities and the very best support to keep the people of Pendle safe.

“We are focused on leaving a lasting legacy beyond bricks and mortar and that’s why we will be supporting the Lancashire economy by using local businesses and creating local employment opportunities whenever possible during construction.”