Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) And Knights Brown Break Ground On New £4m State Of The Art Fire Station

17 Feb 2020

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The redevelopment of Avonmouth fire station on St Andrew’s Road will help improve response, operational efficiency and prevention work for both staff and our community. This development will provide a cost-effective, modern and fit for purpose facility that allows AF&RS to match resource to risk and make our Communities Safer and Service Stronger.

The new station, which is being built by contractors Knights Brown, will feature five new appliance bays, office and accommodation facilities, a lecture theatre, training and skills provisions. The build, part of AF&RS’ Investing for the Future Program, will incorporate a high standard of environmental and energy efficiency including a BREEAM rating of Excellent, extending beyond the requirement of Building Regulations and the inclusion of renewable technologies such as solar panels.

fully staffed and operational

Works on the station began on 13th of Jan and the full build will be completed over two phases lasting 66 weeks – throughout which the station will remain fully staffed and operational. Phase one (Jan to Oct 2020) will see the demolition of the southern (single-storey) building and bays 3-5 of the existing appliance bay and covered wash and construction of the new accommodation block and single appliance bay.

Phase two (Oct 2020 to March 2021) will see the demolition of the northern (two-storey) building and the remaining appliance bay. It will also include the construction of the remaining four appliance bays and all remaining externals works.

improving operational functionality

The new building was designed by AHR and Knights Brown is the principal contractor

Stuart Howison, Major Projects Manager for AF&RS, said: “The new station will help ensure we can better serve the local community, accommodate crews and modernize a key part of the service. The proposed redevelopment is modern in design, while maintaining and improving operational functionality. The building also responds to the brief well in adopting ‘lean design principles’. We are delighted to be working with Knights Brown on this project and we can’t wait to see construction activity progress over the coming months.”

The new building was designed by building consultancy and architectural practice AHR and Knights Brown is the principal contractor. Knights Brown was awarded the building contract in November 2019. Bryan Kennedy, Divisional Director for Knights Brown, added: “We are happy to have this opportunity to work with AF&RS and to bring their ambitions for this state of the art fire station to life, helping improve working lives for fire personnel and enhancing the service they are able to provide for the community."

in need of redevelopment

Bath and Weston-super-Mare fire stations will also see investment over the next five years following condition surveys which found them to be most in need of redevelopment. Both projects are in the initiation/start-up phase and working groups (including representation from station personal) have been established to finalize the project briefs for each station.

The redevelopments come following the £18m sale of the Service’s old headquarters in Temple Back after more than 40 years. The investment will be a positive step as the Authority aims to improve AF&RS across the region and follows the success of the modernization of Hicks Gate and Temple fire stations in recent years.

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