Basingstoke Fire Station

The existing Basingstoke Fire Station had been built in 1967 and added to over the years. It was no longer fit for purpose, but the site was deemed to be the best location for operating in Basingstoke so the decision was made to construct a new fire station on the existing site.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) provided the new fire station brief as follows:

• Garage for ten vehicles – six front line and four specials
• Accommodation for 80 whole time and 20 retained firefighters
• Associated support facilities
• Extended smoke training facility; training tower; training ditch for animal rescue
• Six story training tower
• To be fit for purpose for a minimum of 50+ years.

The main driver for the design was operational effectiveness ensuring firefighters can respond as quickly as possible to an emergency call out. The building was developed in consultation with stakeholders including station managers, watch managers and crew.

Featuring four individual but linked buildings, defined by their function, the building design needed to be sympathetic to it’s location in a residential area; accessible to a diverse range of staff and the community with flexible, integrated and inclusive accommodation designed to afford full access to persons with physical disability.

The facility is high quality, robust and durable – a sustainable building with low cost on-going maintenance and utility consumption. The building is designed to be passively and naturally ventilated with all habitable spaces having opening windows and cross ventilation. Thermal modelling has informed the design and construction to avoid overheating in the summer. And to reduce the need for electric lighting, there are opening roof lights incorporated to aid cross ventilation and promote natural lighting.

It was officially opened on 15 February 2018 by Lord Lieutenant of Basingstoke Fire Station on his first official engagement.