Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) has submitted plans for a temporary fire station in Heywood to maintain emergency cover while the existing station is demolished and replaced with a modern facility. The temporary structure, a two-storey modular building with a single fire engine bay, will be located on land behind the current station on Middleton Road. An existing outbuilding will house any additional specialist vehicles.
Ageing Infrastructure to Be Replaced
The current Heywood Community Fire Station, approximately 60 years old, is deemed no longer fit for purpose by GMFRS. The site, just 400 metres from Junction 19 of the M62 motorway, remains the preferred location for the new station due to its strategic access. Planning documents state: “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.”
Part of £38m Estates Strategy
The redevelopment is part of Greater Manchester’s £38 million Estates Strategy, which aims to upgrade multiple fire stations across the city-region. A separate planning application for the demolition of the old station and construction of the new one is expected shortly. The new facility will include a training tower, vehicle parking, and a training yard, providing enhanced facilities for staff, training, and community engagement.
The planning papers add: “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.”
