New fire stations to be built across county including in Portsmouth as part of £27m investment

The money will be spent on rebuilding stations in Bishop’s Waltham and Redbridge, as well as the new facility in Cosham to boost the modern fire and rescue service.

Between now and 2024, the Station Investment Programme will deliver the new and improved facilities.

Cosham will see the permanent relocation of its existing fire station in Wayte Street to a larger site in Northern Road, formerly used by Portsmouth Craft and Manufacturing Industries (PCMI).

Portsmouth City Council has already outlined a wider strategy for the regeneration of Cosham.

The new station will significantly improve space and facilities for a training base in the east of the county. Fire crews will continue to operate from the existing site until construction is completed.

All three stations have been approved by Hampshire Fire Authority and a planning application will be submitted for the fire station in Bishop’s Waltham this month.

Applications for Redbridge and Cosham are expected to be submitted later this year.

Most fire stations in the county are more than 50 years old and the demands of the service have changed significantly over this time, with older buildings becoming more expensive to run and maintain.

The design team will now work on the final designs plus more detailed plans and costings.

Bishop’s Waltham will have a new fire station on its existing site in Lower Lane. This is expected to be the first station to begin construction and hopes to reduce the risk of flooding.

The operational crew will move into a temporary fire station in a nearby industrial unit while the new station is under construction.

Redbridge Fire Station, shared with various partners including the police and Border Force at Redbridge Hill, will continue to be a cohesive public services building when rebuilt.

Chief fire officer for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, Neil Odin, said: ‘Investment in our fire stations is a fantastic opportunity for us. It will not only provide better facilities for our people to work and train, but also build relationships with other public sector partners.

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‘It is vital that as a service we are visible and accessible to the public, which is why all new stations will have dedicated facilities to engage with our communities.’

Chairman of Hampshire Fire Authority, councillor Chris Carter, added: ‘This is very good news for the people of Hampshire and will allow our fire and rescue service to adapt for the future.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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