Woodcote Estate (Police HQ)

The project continues to progress well and remains on programme, with no delays currently anticipated.

Phase 1

• Street furniture and lamp posts including feeder pillar bases etc
• Install command posts etc
• Type 1, final grading to roads
• Surfacing including surface course
• Signage and white lining etc
• Remove perimeter fencing
• Completion inspection

New Tree Line Footpath

• Surfacing

Entrance Road

• Street furniture and lamp posts including feeder pillar bases etc
• Install command posts etc
• Surfacing
• Disconnection and removal of lamp posts

Exit Road

• Street furniture and posts including feeder pillar bases etc
• Install command posts etc
• Surfacing including road crossings
• Signage and white lining etc

Electrical and Data Works

• Install main cables to car park and entrance road
• Install main cable to tree lined path
• Install main cables to entrance road
• Install main cables to exit road, lv switch and fp1

The Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner has arranged meetings with the Parish Council during the practical stages of the Police HQ External Transformation project. Please see the Meeting Record for the latest meeting here:

Previous Meeting Records are available to view here:

• 6 May 2026 - Community Meeting 2
• 4 Feb 2026 - Community Meeting 1

Car Park and Access Road

• Installation of kerbs to the perimeter and road edges, including path edgings
• Laying of Type 1 stone to roads
• Laying of Type 3 stone to parking bays
• Installation of grid paving, including gravel infill
• Installation of street furniture and lamp posts, including feeder pillar bases

Exit Road

• Construction of the turning head no-dig section, including edgings, grid paving, infill, topsoil and reinstatement works
• Installation of duct runs on the exit road to the pavilion and LV switch, including access chambers and lamp post bases
• Completion of unrestricted works
• Installation of street furniture and posts, including feeder pillar bases
• Installation of command posts

Electrical and Data Works

• Installation of main electrical cables to the car park and entrance road

Update on movement order – Confirmation received that applying the movement order did not breach the construction management plan and that permissions were not required to follow the movement order.  Neither supersede each other however, due to the concerns raised by the parish council when the project faces this situation again, we will move equipment in line with the construction management plan times.

I would also like to make you aware that, following complaints to the Highways Department regarding the road signs installed by O’Brien’s, they have been instructed to remove all signs from the public highway.

I wanted to bring this to your attention as it may lead to further complaints should delivery vehicles inadvertently drive into site using the wrong route.  We are currently in discussions with the local council regarding this matter, but I felt it was important to make you aware in case questions are raised about the removal of the directional signage.

On Wednesday, 6 May, Parish Councillors met with Warwickshire Police for a regular update meeting on the Car Park works at Woodcote (Police HQ). The Programme of Works for May was given, as follows:

Week 2: 4 May

• Archaeological supervision of trenching (entrance road)
• Earthworks: topsoil strip and stockpiling in bunds
• Ducting works to new pathway and lamp posts

Week 3: 11 May

• Archaeological supervision of trenching (exit road)
• Earthworks: topsoil strip and stockpiling in bunds
• New pathway and entrance road: make-good surfacing
• Works to barrier location

Week 4: 18 May

• Archaeological supervision of trenching (football pitch)
• Finishes and surfacing: main duct runs to car park perimeter, access chambers, lamp post bases, etc.
• Exit road: turning head (no-dig section), edgings, grid, infill, topsoil and reinstatement

Week 5: 25 May

• Finishes and surfacing: main duct runs to car park perimeter, access chambers, lamp post bases
• Duct runs on exit road to pavilion and LV switch, including access chambers and lamp post bases
• Ducting works to the west of the football pitch

To report any issues, please contact Warwickshire Police via THIS FORM

Members of the Parish Council and Leek Wootton Focus Group attended the first meeting of a Community Liaison Group at Police HQ on 4 February 2026.

The timescale of works was outlined as follows:

• 09/02/2026 - Vegetation clearance to begin
• Main works will start first week of March and go on for 20 weeks. 
• Access will be through East Lodge entrance (not North Lodge), via Rouncil Lane, Woodcote Lane and sharp right into Woodcote Drive. 
• Traffic – cones and marshals may be used to prevent parking when large movements are happening.  Turning space at entrance is the main concern.
• Big plant will only need to be delivered once.
• Works will be weekdays only between 7:30am and 5:00pm, nothing over weekends. 
• Some work will be done on trimming of trees in time, but this will be under another planning application. 
• Lighting will be lower with domed headed downlighters with warm white and a reduction in the number. 
• There will not be a phone number – there will be an online contact system (see below). 

It was advised that during the duration of the works, any issues, concerns or questions should be reported online via Warwickshire Police’s online portal: Contact us | Warwickshire Police by choosing “Something else” twice and using the free text box accordingly. The Parish Council members were assured that this link can be used by all members of the public and it was confirmed that the force’s OCC team have been liaised with and are aware that reports will be made to them. It was explained that by using this method of reporting with regards to the works means there is an audit trial record and a mechanism for lessons learnt to be taken from this process and works.

The Community Liaison Group will meet monthly and share updates accordingly.

The Construction Management Plan (DOC/25/0067) has been published for the Warwickshire Police External Transformation Project (including the new car park facility)(Ref, W/25/0038). This document sets out all aspects of the construction phases of the project, including the project timeline (projected start date 17 November 2025).

A copy of the plan is available here. The PC has an opportunity to respond - if you wish to comment on any aspect of the Construction Management Plan, please email the Clerk by Monday, 3 November 2025, and the PC will incorporate into its response.

Application No: DOC/25/0067
Description: Application for discharge of conditions 3 (Construction Management Plan), 4 (Arboricultural Method Statement), 5 (Archaeological Works), 6 (Construction and Environmental Management Plan), 7 (Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan), 8 (Bat and Bird Boxes) of planning permission W/25/0038
Address: Warwickshire Police Headquarters, Woodcote Lane, Leek Wootton, Warwick, CV35 7QB

View case

LW&GC PC Comment: Comments submitted 03/11/2025 (see correspondence)
WDC Decision: Pending

In September 2025 a resident again raised concerns about the speed of Police vehicles traveling through Leek Wootton. The response received from Chief Inspector Operations is available to read below:

Woodcote has been Warwickshire Police HQ since 1949 (read more on the Warwickshire Police website). In 2011 it was announced that the Police would be leaving, due to the partnership with West Mercia Police. When the partnership broke down the Police announced their re-adoption of Woodcote as Police HQ in April 2019.

Key dates relating to recent planning at Woodcote (since announcing its re-adoption as Police HQ) are as follow:

• 06/12/2022 – W/22/1884/LB – Repair works to the exterior ashlar sandstone of Grade II listed Woodcote House (GRANTED: 20/02/2023)
• 05/12/2022 – W/22/1864 & 1865/LB – Replacement of windows, external doors and vents of the 1960’s office block that connects to Grade II listed Woodcote House (GRANTED: 03/02/2023)
• 06/12/2022 – W/22/1891 – Repair works to bell tower, cornice cupola and weathervane (GRANTED: 20/02/2023) 20/03/2023 – W/23/0377/LB – North Lodge repairs (GRANTED: 22/05/2023)
• 04/09/2024 – W/24/1107 – Proposed installation of a temporary parking area for 74 cars (WITHDRAWN)
• 23/10/2024 – W/24/1256 – Replacement of flat roof (GRANTED: 17/11/2024)
• 04/02/2025 – W/25/0038 – External works to improve the safety and security of Police Headquarters’ staff, visitors and policing operations. Improvements to include; resurfacing of existing roads, paths and car parks, additional car parking, overflow car parking area, pedestrian footpaths, external lighting, CCTV, security barriers, security huts, sunshade canopies, security gates, disabled ramp, garden of reflection, structural landscaping and biodiversity net gain (GRANTED: 07/08/2025)
• 18/02/2025 – W/25/0173/LB – Refurbishment of the first floor female toilets (GRANTED: 07/04/2025)

Application No: W/25/0173 LB
Description: Refurbishment of the first floor female toilets in Woodcote House. This will include the removal an internal timber stud partition wall (including a timber hollow core door), an existing glass screen and existing toilet and wash hand basing (plus cabinetry). The refurbishment will include the installation of 2 new WC's within cubicles, a new metal stud wall to reduce the length of the room to the back of the WCs, a new vanity and basin along with redecoration to the existing walls and installation of an electrical hand dryer.
Address: Warwickshire Police Headquarters, Woodcote Lane, Leek Wootton, Warwick, CV35 7QB

LW&GC PC Comment: No objection
WDC Decision: GRANTED

Link to on-line application documents