The new facility is approximately 1,747m2 and is being built on the Blar Mor Development site adjacent to the A830.
The building will also house the Scottish Ambulance Service, who will move from their Inverlochy Station into 185m2 off dedicated purpose built space, within the new station.
Northern Joint Police Board member and councillor for Fort William and Ardnamurchan, Brian Murphy, was in Fort William today to cut the first turf of the new development.
He was joined by Northern Constabulary Chief Constable George Graham and Scottish Ambulance Service Chairman David Garbutt.
Mr Murphy said: "The new Fort William Police Station represents the Northern Joint Police Board’s ongoing commitment to policing in Lochaber.
"The station will also house the Scottish Ambulance Service who will be moving from their Inverlochy base.
"This is an excellent example of collaborative working, which provides best value for the people of Fort William and the surrounding area."
He added: "This will be a state-of-the-art building which will provide a much improved base from which to operate efficiently and make maximum use of Police resources in Lochaber."
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In line with Northern Constabulary’s Sustainable Development Policy, the new building will incorporate sustainable technologies such as "Ground Source Heating Pumps” and "Heat Recovery Technology", with welfare facilities being shared between the Police Service and the Ambulance Service to further reduce costs.
The new building will be approximately 700m2 larger than the existing building, but due to the nature of the sustainable technologies incorporated in the building, it is projected that running costs will be reduced by 33% on the costs of the old building.
The existing building was built in 1972, and has reached the end of it economical life; the new building will house the same functions as the existing building, with the addition of a new Trucks Road Patrol Group (Roads Policing Unit), and a modernised cell block which will have SLAB (Scottish Legal Aid Board) Video Consultation facilities.
The investment in Fort William brings the Property Estate in Lochaber up to a very high standard with, the Stations at Strontian, Mallaig, Glencoe and Fort William all having being renovated or re-built within the last 6 years, funded through significant investment by the Northern Joint Police Board.
Graham MacLeod, Head of Service, North West, Scottish Ambulance Service, said: "The new facility will provide an effective modern working environment that meets all important infection control standards. The inclusion of a training and conference rooms will support the continued professional development of ambulance staff and Fort William will become a training centre within the region.
"The new location is ideal and offers direct access to the main road, which will improve response times."
Around 30 ambulance staff will be based at the new station and 3 emergency ambulances, an officer response car for scene management and 3 Patient Transport vehicles will operate from the facility. Each year, staff in Fort William respond to over 1,000 emergencies, transfer around 400 patients to Glasgow and Edinburgh and transfer 3,500 patients to and from hospital clinics.
(GK)
