About the RCMP Facility Expansion
The West Shore RCMP serves the rapidly growing communities of Langford, Colwood, View Royal, Metchosin, Highlands, Songhees First Nation, and Esquimalt First Nation. To ensure the police force can continue to serve this growing population, the municipalities are exploring options to expand the West Shore RCMP detachment.
Why is expansion required?
The current detachment was constructed in the late 1990s, serving a population of approximately 47,000 people (1999 census). Since then, the West Shore region has experienced significant growth and is now home to more than 85,000 people (2021 census). This has resulted in higher demands for police services and staffing.
Expansion of the facility is proposed to support the RCMP to operate efficiently and continue to provide a high level of community safety service by addressing the following constraints:
Rapid Population Growth: The population increase in the communities across the West Shore has created the need to hire additional officers, which has put a demand on the building’s capacity.
Space Limitations: The current facility provides 37,000 sq ft for 174 RCMP Officers, support staff, equipment, and vehicles. That number is forecasted to grow by five to seven staff each year to serve our growing population. Temporary overflow spaces have been secured, but these are short-term solutions.
Operational Challenges: Without expansion, the current detachment will not meet the current and future policing needs of the community effectively.
Project at a Glance
- Location: 698 Atkins Avenue, Langford
- Owners Group: City of Langford, City of Colwood and Town of View Royal
- Design and construction budget: $87.5 million
- Overall project funding: Up to $103 million
- Project deliver model: Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
- Current phase: Demolition and construction
- Demolition begins: October 2026
- Anticipated completion: 2029
- Completed facility size: 81,665 sq. ft.
The West Shore RCMP Facility Expansion has a total budget of $103 million. This includes $87.5 million for design and construction, with up to $15.5 million for other project costs, including land acquisition, insurance, permits, temporary RCMP space and storage, project management and IPD advisory services.
Project history & timeline
- 1966
Original RCMP 7,642 sq. ft. facility constructed - 1999
An 26,400 sq. ft. addition was built, projected to provide sufficient accommodation for the RCMP for 12 to 15 years (2011 to 2014) - 2019
RCMP advises the Owners Group that the building is nearing capacity - 2020/2021
Options analysis and planning begin - 2022
Expansion on the existing site recommended. Integrated Project Delivery selected as the preferred delivery approach - 2023
Langford, Colwood and View Royal approve Integrated Project Delivery as the procurement approach - 2024
Integrated Project Delivery Advisor and project team procurement undertaken - 2025
Project Validation Phase completed - 2026
Owner Municipalities endorse the Validation Report and project advances to detailed design, demolition and construction - 2026-2029
Construction and commissioning
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