Brentwood Police Station April 2018

mookster · Apr 9, 2018

Finally got to see this spot, after looking for somewhere to do around the Essex area with Landie Man and another explorer. Landie Man had already done it but he didn't mind showing us around which was nice. In hindsight it probably wasn't my best call going exploring as I could barely walk following a very painful procedure on my foot the day before but there we go.

After getting in myself I let Landie and our friend in and we had a good explore, with all going swimmingly well until Landie decided to set the panic alarm off on the front desk - thankfully I was stood right by the reset panel so after about twenty seconds of wondering what the bloody hell was going on managed to turn it off. It's a beautiful art deco-era building, it's just a shame it's been so horribly cut up inside as you can see where once large rooms have been split into two or three smaller rooms with substantial granite columns partially boxed in with stud walls.

Current info, stolen from mockney reject's thread

In December 2015 Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston announced that 15 police stations were to be closed to the public in Essex as part of a £63million spending cut. Brentwood Police Station was one of 9 closing completely. He stated that the buildings were no longer fit for purpose.

"Police officers, not buildings, fight crime," Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh said.

"We spend too much on too many police buildings, many of which are either no longer fit for policing or are hardly used by the public to report crime.

Bentwood Police station closed to the public in April 2016, and was vacated in December 2017. Operations have now moved to the local Town Hall. The building was closed as it cost £10million per year in running costs, and would have cost a further £30million in maintenance to bring it up to standard.

Kemsley LLP announced the marketing of Brentwood Police Station for proposed residential development. The site extends to approximately 2.75 acres and a planning application is to be submitted for 70-100 dwellings as part new build, part conversion of existing buildings.

It was an enjoyable if slightly uncomfortable wander for me, I do normally like my explores with a bit more in the way of decay but I'd not done a police station before so it's another thing ticked off the list. Afterwards we headed off to St. George's in Hornchurch but my foot was too bad to continue so I sat it out in the car which was a shame.