PLANS for a new fire station on Radford Road have been given the green light by Coventry councillors.
The new station will see the demolition of the existing L-shaped fire station on the site, and a new, much larger station built on the site.
The new contemporary looking two-storey building will have offices, changing facilities, a gym and community meeting rooms, while a new training building will be built behind the new station near the existing smoke house.
It will also house a permanent West Midlands Ambulance Service member of staff and vehicle.
Some residents close to the site expressed concerns that plans to cut down trees on the site to make way for the new building, arguing they provide a visual ‘screen’ and important habitat for local wildlife.
However, the developers later submitted new landscaping plans which proposed maintaining the existing tree belt and plant additional trees along the east and west boundaries to the site.
Others raised concerns about the continued use of the smoke house, complaining of ‘unpleasant lingering charcoal’ smells, but refurbishment works to the smoke house will see window and door seals replaced, and improvements made to ensure more smoke is contained within the building during training exercises – a condition the council’s environmental officer was satisfied with.
Throwing his support behind the proposals, Coun Singh said: “The new fire station will continue to provide the residents of Coventry with a best in class and professional fire service for our city.
“The current design of the building is not suitable for the future needs of the fire service.
“Aesthetically the current building is of brutalist architectural style which is dated and not in keeping with a modern open city.
“The proposed new design is a massive improvement, as well as being more functional, providing the opportunity for greater
community and shared services use.
“The new build supports the regeneration of Coventry City Centre, a core strategy of our local planning goals.”
