Arresting Passivhaus Police Station becomes UK first
Fighting crime and leading climate action, Cheshire Constabulary has cracked the case. Wilmslow Police Station is the first in the UK to achieve Passivhaus certification, setting a bold precedent for high-performance civic buildings.
Designed to meet the operational demands of a modern police force while delivering exceptional comfort and efficiency, this pioneering project proves that sustainability and public service can go hand in hand. With collaboration across the design and delivery team, Wilmslow stands as a blueprint for future-ready police stations. The Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner's Police and Crime Plan's environmental strategy includes a commitment to minimising the impact on the environment, whilst supporting operational activity.
PHT member Corstorphine & Wright was Architect on the project, which was certified by PHT Member ZE Passivhaus. PHT member Linear Design & Construct was Contractor on the project.
Key stats
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One of my priorities is to modernise, including the police estate. This new building is leading the way, not only here in Cheshire but nationwide. Having police buildings that are fit for purpose is key in ensuring not only the comfort of officers and staff, but also our commitments to our communities and the environment. We are the pioneers of what modern energy efficient public buildings can be and this police station is the first step in this journey for us and the rest of the county.. Dan Price, Cheshire Police & Crime Commissioner |
Construction
Due to its intended end use and the need for a high performing envelope, the decision was made to go with a fabric first approach and traditional construction. A slate grey facing brick and block external skin on ground floor was specified, overclad with a rusty red standing seam steel cladding on the first floor, wrapping over the asymmetrical roof. From a design perspective, the aim was to convey a modern yet vernacular compact building form, using industrial materials in a modern context.
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It's been a long time in the making, but I am delighted that we are opening this fantastic new police station. It is an important statement of our commitment to Wilmslow and the surrounding areas that we will maintain a strong police presence here.t is also right that we provide excellent working conditions for our hard-working officers and staff. This is part of our estates strategy for East Cheshire, and we now hope to make positive progress on a new station in Crewe to ensure our buildings are sustainable, environmentally friendly and fit for purpose. Chief Constable Mark Roberts, Cheshire Constabulary |
U-values |
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Roof: 0.09 W/m2K Mineral wool at ceiling level. |
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Wall: 0.13 W/m2K External wall insulation block |
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Floor: 0.13 W/m2K PIR insulation on concrete slab |
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Building performance
Designed energy performance |
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Airtightness n50 (≤ 0.6ACH @ 50 Pa)
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0.6 @ 50 Pa
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Space Heating Demand (≤ 15 kWh/m².a)
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18 kWh/m².a
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Heating Load (≤ 10 W/m²)
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10 W/m²
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Primary Energy Demand (≤ 120 kWh/m².a)
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77 kWh/m².a
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Primary Energy Renewable (PER) Demand (≤ 60 kWh/m².a*)
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62 kWh/m².a
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Primary Energy Renewable Generation
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55 kWh/m².a
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*+/-15 kWh/m².a allowance if offset by energy generation. See Passivhaus criteria.
See International Passive House Database listing for more details.
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The police station was designed to create an open and light working environment, with recreational facilities internally and external seating areas within a biodiverse landscape for the officers’ wellbeing. The building was not only designed to reduce its embodied carbon through careful choice of materials and specifications used, but also to reduce significantly its operational carbon by achieving Passivhaus certification. Kim Ebling, Passivhaus Consultant |
Services
An Air to Air heat pump supplies the heating and hot water needs to the building. Shading is supplied via metal screening, which also ensures security and privacy.
Lessons learned
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Collaboration: The project team including Cheshire Constabulary, the design team, main contractor, and Passivhaus certifier worked closely from the initial stages to ensure a shared understanding of the vision, requirements, and constraints. A dedicated online platform enabled real-time communication and document review, streamlining compliance with Passivhaus standards and ensuring transparency throughout.
- Form factor: The form of the new building is a simple yet a very efficient rectangular shape with a pitched roof. This not only suits the vernacular of the area, but also provides a good form factor, helping with Passivhaus performance.
Architect’s viewThis marks a significant milestone for low-energy public buildings and sets a new benchmark for sustainability within the bluelight sector. Appointed by Cheshire Constabulary following a competitive tender process, our brief was clear: deliver a modern, high-performing facility that meets the operational demands of a contemporary emergency response unit while aligning with the client’s long-term sustainability goals. Initially targeting BREEAM certification — a comprehensive framework for assessing environmental performance — we saw the opportunity to go further. With a new-build site and a forward-thinking client, we set our sights on Passivhaus certification, known for its rigorous standards in energy efficiency and occupant comfort. Achieving both accreditations reflects our commitment to exceeding expectations and driving innovation in public sector design. Architect, Corstophine & Wright |
Key team
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Congratulations to the whole team on delivering the UK's first Passivhaus Police Station, and one of just a handful acrss the world. More and more public sector clients are seeing the multiple benefits of adopting Passivhaus for public buildings.
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You may also be interested in our Large & Complex Masterclass series, for more examples of and lessons from extraordinary Passivhaus developments
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Further information
Passivhaus Police Station Bayern
Passivhaus Benefits Guide & costs research
Passivhaus Fire & Police Stations
This marks a significant milestone for low-energy public buildings and sets a new benchmark for sustainability within the bluelight sector.
Appointed by Cheshire Constabulary following a competitive tender process, our brief was clear: deliver a modern, high-performing facility that meets the operational demands of a contemporary emergency response unit while aligning with the client’s long-term sustainability goals.
Initially targeting BREEAM certification — a comprehensive framework for assessing environmental performance — we saw the opportunity to go further. With a new-build site and a forward-thinking client, we set our sights on Passivhaus certification, known for its rigorous standards in energy efficiency and occupant comfort. Achieving both accreditations reflects our commitment to exceeding expectations and driving innovation in public sector design.
17th October 2025
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