£48m fire service PPP to begin

A PUBLIC-private partnership scheme worth £48m which will see 16 community fire stations built in the region is set to begin.

Contractor Balfour Beatty said in a Stock Market statement that it had reached financial close for the North West Fire and Rescue Services PPP scheme.

The 25-year scheme will involve the design, construction, funding and provision of facilities management for the fire stations, of which seven are in Merseyside, five in Cumbria, and four in Lancashire.

As well as operating as fire stations, the buildings will provide resources for community use, such as meeting rooms, lecture rooms and gyms.

The stations will be built on a mixture of new and existing sites in a range of locations from rural stations with retained crews, to busy inner-city stations with full-time crews. 

Construction of five of the fire stations will begin this month, with all construction work to be completed by 2013.

Balfour Beatty chief executive, Ian Tyler, said the North West scheme is the country’s biggest fire service PPP to date. “The upgrade of the stations will help meet the changing needs and support the modern practices of the fire and rescue service, and provide a better environment for working, learning and training. 

“We look forward to working with Cumbria County Council, Lancashire Combined Fire Authority and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority.”

Balfour Beatty will invest approximately £5.5m of equity into the project.