West Chester BID CCTV & ANPR
OneTek deployed 54 AI-enabled CCTV cameras and 3 specialist ANPR cameras across 14 locations on the West Chester industrial estate. What was originally a security project became the foundation of a Smart Estate, delivering Net Zero data, vehicle analytics, and ultra-fast broadband over the same network.
The Problem
West Chester BID needed estate-wide CCTV and ANPR coverage. The estate spans a large area with multiple access points, and the existing security provision wasn't giving businesses or the BID board the visibility they needed.
OneTek had a long history of providing similar systems to other BIDs in the Chester area, working alongside Groundwork CLM. But this project hit obstacles early. Planning permission and various approvals meant the deployment was in the pipeline for several years before it could move forward.
The Solution
OneTek used the waiting time productively. The original proposal was for 52 cameras across the estate with three ANPR cameras covering the entrances. By the time approvals came through, OneTek had upgraded the specification beyond the original requirements — all within the approved budget.
The final deployment, launched in September 2023, included:
- 54 CCTV cameras equipped with the latest AI technology across 14 locations
- 3 specialist ANPR cameras covering estate entrances
- AI-enhanced searching and monitoring capabilities across the entire system
- Ultra-fast broadband delivered over the same Wi-Fi and fibre networks used for CCTV
The broadband provision was a practical bonus for estate businesses. Where BT couldn't provide sufficient service, OneTek's network offered an alternative — fast, reliable connectivity running on infrastructure that was already in the ground.
The End Result
The system went beyond security from day one. AI-powered cameras capture detailed metadata on every vehicle entering and leaving the estate, turning raw footage into structured data.
The Net Zero data alone opened new conversations. The system now tracks:
- Vehicle counts and estimated carbon output
- Fuel types across the vehicle population
- MOT and tax compliance status
- Vehicle age and Euro emission ratings
This gives the BID board hard data on the environmental profile of the estate — information that supports funding applications, sustainability reporting, and evidence-based planning decisions.
The security side delivers exactly what was needed: AI-assisted monitoring that flags incidents in real time, ANPR logging at every entrance, and high-quality footage that supports both deterrence and evidence recovery.
The Future
West Chester BID's system is now a working example of what OneTek calls a Smart Estate — where CCTV, ANPR, connectivity, and data analytics run on a single platform managed by one team.
There has been significant interest in the project from beyond the BID itself. Other estate managers and local authorities have been watching to see how these technologies work together in practice.
The next steps include deploying additional sensors to expand data collection, deeper integration with estate management processes, and exploring how the platform can support wider initiatives around traffic flow, pedestrian activity, and environmental monitoring.
The project started as a CCTV installation. It became something considerably more useful.
The project outcomes encompass several key achievements.
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