The new station is located on the lawn of the original station, which was to be demolished on completion of the new building. The design of the new station makes careful use of the site orientation to maximise passive solar design and also to respond respectfully to the surrounding residential properties.
Achieving a BREEAM Excellent rating the building employs the principle of high thermal mass, coupled with low U-values and increased insulation thicknesses. Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal arrays are used to generate energy on site. Daylight tubes provide natural light into the building’s Section 30 compliant detainee’s suite, minimising energy use in the less used areas of the building.
The building seeks to express the public and private elements through materiality. Bronze is used on the bicycle lock-up area, with large panels catching and reflecting daylight. Timber cladding is used to delineate the public parts of the building, with the use of bronze to highlight the public entrance to the station, and as an element to pick out areas of detailing to tie the whole building together.