Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) has been granted permission by Rochdale council to build a temporary fire station in Heywood, while a new permanent facility is planned. The temporary station will be erected on land behind the current station off Middleton Road.
Once the temporary station is operational, the existing station, which is around 60 years old, will be demolished to make way for a new state-of-the-art facility. The site, located just 400 metres from Junction 19 of the M62 motorway, is still considered the best location for the new fire station.
Temporary Facility Details
The temporary structure will be a two-storey modular building with a bay to house one fire engine. The current outbuilding will be used to house any extra specialist vehicle.
Planning papers stated: “The temporary fire station will ensure that operational emergency response services are maintained throughout the redevelopment period, avoiding any interruption to service provision for the local community while facilitating the delivery of the proposed replacement facility.”
Plans for the New Station
According to GMFRS, the existing fire station is around 60 years old and needs replacing. The new facility is expected to include a training tower, vehicle parking and a training yard.
Planning papers added: “The proposed redevelopment will replace the existing ageing fire station with a modern, fit-for-purpose community fire station that will meet the current and future operational requirements of GMFRS and provide enhanced facilities for staff, training and community engagement.”
Part of a Wider Strategy
The plans are part of Greater Manchester’s £38 million Estates Strategy, which sets out a vision for upgrading and redeveloping a number of stations across the city-region to ensure they remain fit for purpose and enable GMFRS to provide the best possible service to residents.
A separate planning application is expected to follow soon for the demolition of the existing fire station and the construction of the replacement community fire station.
