Plans for a new state-of-the-art fire station in Cosham take a huge leap forward

Released ahead of Wednesday’s meeting of Portsmouth City Council’s powerful planning committee, it says Hampshire & Isle of Wight’s fire and rescue service program is in line with its guidelines.

‘The proposed new fire station will be built on an easily accessible brownfield site in Cosham and is therefore in principle acceptable,’ reads the document. “It would meet the requirements of the fire service to provide a modern emergency facility for the public good and be of acceptable scale and design with acceptable environmental impact achieved by supporting a range of conditions.”

One of those conditions is to provide the council with further information on landscaping and tree protection measures before work begins.

Plans for the former PCMI site on Northern Road, alongside land earmarked for both a new doctor’s office and residential development for additional care, envision a three-story fire station to be complemented with staff quarters, a gym and a state-of-the-art art’ Training facility, which also includes a practice tower.

‘[Fire stations] must house a range of highly specialized facilities for firefighters and for the storage and maintenance of equipment and vehicles,” said a statement filed with the plans. “They also house more routine activities such as offices and staff facilities, which should be designed to the best contemporary standards found in other building types.”

The project is part of the nationwide £27m ‘Station Investment Scheme’ which also includes the rebuilding of one of its fire stations in Southampton.

After the application was submitted, Councilor Rhydian Vaughan, chairman of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Agency, said the project must go ahead.

“The existing fire station at Cosham is one of the oldest in Hampshire and the facilities need upgrading,” he said. “The location is cramped and no longer meets the requirements of a modern fire and rescue service.

‘Plans to relocate the Cosham Fire Station represent an exciting opportunity to create a purpose-built facility that will benefit our firefighters, the communities we serve and our partners.’

Should the committee grant planning permission on Wednesday, the existing fire station will remain operational until the replacement is built.