New Build Project Rothwell Fire Station

Station Commander Claire Hesslewood

Project Co-ordinator Leeds District

Foreword

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) are committed to protecting local communities.

During recent community consultation to the proposed Integrated Risk Management Plan, WYFRS

have listened to the views of local communities and through further consultation, agreed future fire

cover plans for the Rothwell area.

The new plans involve replacing the existing fire station with a brand new fire station in the same

location where 14 Firefighters will provide 24/7 cover 365 days of the year.

Rothwell’s existing fire station was built in 1963 and is located on Carlton Lane. The station protects

a population of 35,127 people and covers the area of Rothwell and locations of Thorpe, Robin Hood,

John O'Gaunts, Oulton, Woodlesford, Methley, Lofthouse, Mickletown, Stourton, Carlton and Lee

Moor incorporating 14,572 dwellings.

All the firefighters at Rothwell live locally and are fully committed to reducing risk in their local area.

The Rothwell firefighters also have specialist training in water rescue and flood response.

We are committed to working with the local residents, as well as your local firefighters, throughout all

phases of building the new fire station, to ensure that it meets the needs of Rothwell’s community.

We are keen to be good neighbours and keep any disturbance to an absolute minimum.

Feedback with local residents has already shaped the design of the new station and ensures a new

community room will be available for use by all.

The new fire station build will not affect our ability to attend fire calls and we will still provide a top

class service. Throughout the new build, crews will still operate from the current site using new

purposely designed temporary accommodation. The new fire station is planned to open in July 2015

safeguarding the future of this West Yorkshire local community for many years to come.

The current Rothwell Fire Station was opened in 1963.

Introduction to project

Following a strategic review of services through

the Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP)

process, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

Service (WYFRS) are implementing the

construction of a number of new fire stations

throughout West Yorkshire. The construction of

the new fire station at Rothwell is key in

achieving full implementation of the IRMP.

Rothwell Fire Station is an existing station

which is nearing the end of its design life in

terms of maintenance needs and operational

requirements, hence the need to commission a

new, modern station to meet the current

demands of the fire service.

The existing two storey fire station will be

demolished but the training tower along with

some ancillary accommodation at the rear will

be retained and incorporated into the new

development. Additionally, the existing

detached garage is no longer required and will

also be demolished as part of the building

works.

The current station will be demolished but the training tower will be retained. During the rebuild a

temporary fire station will be operated from the same site.

The Design

The site is located close to the Rothwell

Conservation Area and therefore the proposed

development needs to be considered in the

context of the impact of the development on the

heritage asset. Local Planning Policy states

that all new buildings adjacent to conservation

areas should preserve or enhance the

character or appearance of the area. Through

the design of the scheme, in particular the siting

and scale of the building, the fire service have

sought to ensure that the development sits

comfortably on the site and within the wider

setting therefore preserving the character and

appearance of the Conservation Area. In the

context of the existing development on site and

the functional yet modern appearance the fire

service are seeking for their new stations, the

proposed red brick and panelling materials are

considered acceptable and would not detract

from the character or appearance of the

Conservation Area.

The above impression gives an indication of the style of building that Rothwell Fire Station will be modelled on. As

mentioned previously, the original training tower will be retained and sympathetically blended into the new design.

Use

The proposed development will provide for a

new, two bay operational fire station. The fire

station will be a single storey building which will

provide all of the necessary operational

accommodation for the fire service personnel

and the associated vehicles. The building will

comprise of a two bay vehicle garage, offices

and rest and recreation areas. Ancillary to the

building there will be a service yard and car

parking to the rear.

Layout

The layout is mostly dictated by the operational

requirements of the fire station in order that it

can function efficiently, effectively and safely.

The layout of the new site principally follows

that of the existing fire station due to the limited

scope to vary the arrangement.

Operational requirements dictate that fire

service vehicles must re-enter the site via the

service yard thus allowing them to drive forward

into the vehicle bays within the building. The

vehicles will then be in the required location and

correct orientation for the next emergency turn

out. The vehicle movements within the site will

remain the same as existing.

Appearance

The materials for the building have been

selected to provide the required aesthetics

combined with maximum durability and

robustness.

The elevations are proposed to be constructed

of clay facing brickwork (mid red) and silver

Trespa wall cladding.

The brickwork reflects the appearance of the

adjacent residential properties, while the

proposed wall cladding provides a break in

what would otherwise be a very large expanse

of brickwork. The roofing panels are proposed

to be light grey in colour in order to reflect the

colour of other roofs in the area which are grey

slate or concrete tiles.

Certain aspects of the building are defined by

the nature of the use, for example the vehicle

access / egress doors that are a fundamental

requirement to allow the functional operation of

the building. These are perhaps one of the

most prominent features which define the fire

station from other buildings.

Floor Plan

All the accommodation for the fire station is

located on the ground floor. The plans show

the appliance bays on the left, which will

accommodate one fire engine with room for a

spare if required. At the rear is a covered wash

area where training and day to day routines can

be carried out.

The multi-use space / room is a facility which

local communities will be able to access on

request. Simple refreshment facilities will be

available within the room and a fully accessible

disabled toilet will be located next to the

entrance. From the car parking areas the

building is easily accessed via level surfaces up

to the main entrance.

The internal rooms are constructed from

painted block work which provides a cost

effective and robust finish suitable for the

functions of an operational fire station.

Efficiency

The new station will provide a far higher level of

efficiencies than those that it replaces. The

building will benefit from such design features

as LED lighting, extensive use of materials with

an enhanced level of building fabric thermal

performance and water collection systems to

capture the water used during training for re-

use.

Access

The Fire Authority actively promotes a

Disability Equality Scheme (DES) throughout

the entire service.

The scheme design will take into account the

above commitment.

It is anticipated that general visitor traffic to

and from the new fire station will be from

within the immediate local area. In most

cases visits to the station by visitors would be

by foot. A nominal amount of parking for

visitors is provided.

We have a strong and genuine commitment

from all staff to ensure equality and diversity in

everything we do and to continue making a

difference within the various communities that

we serve.

Our Ambition:

Making West Yorkshire Safer

Our Aim:

Provide an excellent fire and rescue

service working in partnership to reduce

death, injury, economic loss and contribute

to community well being.

Proposed programme

The following estimated timelines will show the

key dates for the project:

Appoint construction contractor

February 2014

Site occupied by constructor

March 2014

Construction complete

March 2015

Station operational

April 2015

Other West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

Service fire stations under planned

construction:

York Road, Killingbeck, Leeds

Carlton Road, Batley Carr, Dewsbury

South Kirkby Business Park, South

Kirkby

Clough Lane, Rastrick

Contact

Project Co-ordinator

Clare Hesselwood

Rothwell Fire Station

Carlton Lane

Leeds

LS26 0DH

t 0113 2822410

e Clare.Hesselwood01@westyorksfire.gov.uk

Building Design

Rex Proctor & Partners

www.rpp.co.uk

Contractors

TBA