Lancashire’s Combined Fire Authority have approved plans to re-locate the Headquarters of the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service from Fulwood to Chorley, building a new combined Service Headquarters and Training Centre site on the existing Chorley site, aiming for Spring of 2016 to complete the move.

The £10 million project, will be funded out of the Fire Authority’s own capital budget but an additional bid has been made for a Central Government grant. The move forms part of the wider redevelopment of the Chorley site, which includes the provision of a new fire station.

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Lancashire’s Chief Fire Officer Chris Kenny says,

“The Service HQ building on Garstang Road, Fulwood was built as a private residence for one family but is now workplace for 187 people. Over many years it has become a compromise in terms of space and suitability for purpose. Moreover, the cost of maintaining and heating the old building has been a constant drain on resources which will be more than offset by the energy and efficiency savings that purpose-built premises would guarantee.”

“The site at Fulwood also includes Fulwood fire station and the arrangements for moving do not incorporate any change to this. The future of the fire station will be considered in 2013 as part of the scheduled Emergency Cover Review which every three years looks at continuing requirements for each and every fire station in Lancashire. Any change affecting Fulwood fire station would require public consultation.”

“The cost of refurbishing the present buildings would be significant and it simply could not be adapted to serve our needs at any price. Evidence of the cost-effectiveness of our proposal for a new-build solution is compelling and the space available at our Training Centre site would enable us to sell the site at Fulwood – in whole or part – saving considerable sums on the running costs and contributing to our capital reserves.”

Source: Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service