The City of Langford has announced that the West Shore RCMP headquarters will be expanded in the coming year, as its capacity is currently stretched thin.
This detachment primarily serves the rapidly growing communities of Langford, Colwood and View Royal.
However, some may not realize that West Shore RCMP are also responsible for the municipalities of Metchosin, Highlands, Songhees First Nation and Xwsepsum First Nation.
The current West Shore RCMP detachment building was built in the 1960s, and has not been expanded since the 90s.
Police currently use temporary space that has been set aside for them at Langford city hall, but this was always meant to be a short-term solution.
So, to expand the police headquarters, construction will take place to add a new section to the existing building.
The property and building is jointly owned by the City of Langford, the City of Colwood and View Royal.
In mid-November, the Capital Regional District (CRD) approved a budget of up to $103 million in borrowed capital for this construction project and are aiding in coordinating the borrowing.
This amount is meant to include building costs, land acquisition costs, insurance, project management and contingency.
The construction budget is capped at $87.5 million for this project, and the remaining $15.5 million is to be used for land acquisition, design consultation, insurance and other soft costs.
Langford will manage land acquisition, design, construction and insurance with input and support from Colwood and View Royal.
The project is anticipated to be completed in 2029.
Correction – November 27th:
An earlier version of this article stated that the project would only cost $87.5 million, but that is actually the construction budget. The full budget for the project is $103 million.
