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The Chief Fire Officer updated Members on the proposals for the development of a North Herefordshire Strategic Training Facility, the potential future relocation of Leominster Fire Station and options to relocate the Training Centre to Wyre Forest Fire Station.
Leominster STF was the only ‘hot fire house’ training facility approved in 2011 which had not so far been delivered. However, a potential site had now been identified at Leominster Police Station, with a proposal to provide a two-storey training facility, with both domestic and commercial training scenarios and BA facilities.
A long term option to relocate Leominster Fire Station to the Police site has also been identified. The proposal was to further develop and incorporate the fire station redevelopment option into the STF planning permission documents, proposing a two phased approach to the scheme.
The existing Training Centre at Droitwich Fire Station was very constrained. It was therefore proposed to investigate the feasibility of relocating the Training Centre to the Wyre Forest Hub. These proposals would be subject to identifying appropriate funding and could be phased over a four year period.
The budget allocation for the North Herefordshire STF had been previously approved by the Fire Authority and Members agreed to proceed with the feasibility options and planning appraisal for the relocation of the Training Centre.
RESOLVED that:
(i) the budget allocation for the development of the North Herefordshire Strategic Training Facility (STF) be noted, shown in Appendix 1 [CONFIDENTIAL - Not For Publication];
(ii) the Authority proceed with proposals for the development of a North Herefordshire Strategic Training Facility on the Leominster Police Station site at Enterprise Park, Leominster (phase 1) subject to the agreement of the Police & Crime Commissioner;
(iii) Officers be authorised to:
- appoint architects to complete detailed design work and seek planning permission for the proposed STF development utilising the previously approved capital programme, shown in appendix 1;
- submit additional detail in the STF planning application as part of a proposed two phase development approach for the future relocation of Leominster Fire Station to the Police Station site;
(c) proceed with the proposed STF development subject to planning permission being granted and provided the estimated costs remain within the approved budget;
(d) make suitable arrangements to enter into an agreement with the Police & Crime Commissioner to locate the STF at Enterprise Park (phase 1), and the potential future relocation of Leominster Fire Station if planning permission is approved and capital funding is identified (phase 2); and
(e) appoint architects to complete a feasibility options appraisal, including planning feasibility to relocate Training Centre to Wyre Forest Fire Station, financed from within the reserve approved in June 2021, also shown in Appendix 1.