Staffordshire fire station refurb delayed due to cost

Brewood Fire Station in South Staffordshire was set to undergo a £500,000 revamp this year as part of Commissioner Ben Adams’ fire capital programme - but the projected cost of the scheme was ‘well over’ the amount set aside to it, and so managers are having to revise the proposals. 

Members of the Staffordshire police, fire and crime panel were told that the project is still expected to go ahead, but not until 2025/26.

Brewood Fire Station, in Bargate Lane, Brewood, is a retained facility with one fire engine and a Ford Ranger.

Director of finance David Greensmith said: “We have been looking at trying to refurbish Brewood Fire Station, to update it and make sure the facilities are reflective of what we need as a modern fire and rescue service.

“But unfortunately the first pass of the additional costs for Brewood came in well over the budgeted envelope, so we’re now reviewing how we’re going to do that project. So Brewood has been delayed, but we are still looking to deliver an amended version of the project within the 2025/26 capital programme.”

A total of £1.6 million in capital projects have been ‘reprogrammed’ to next year, with a total of £4.8 million set to be spent in 2024/25 on buildings, vehicles, equipment and IT.

Mr Greensmith told the panel that there had recently been a ‘significant investment’ in two new enhanced rescue pumps. 

This comes after two new aerial ladder platforms were bought last year, meaning over £2 million has been spent on four vehicles in 18 months.