Brief
Since 2010, Concertus has been working closely with Suffolk Fire & Rescue and Suffolk Constabulary on an initiative to achieve greater collaboration between the blue light services in the county.
The client’s main objective was to improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the fire and police services. Therefore, the initiative involves bringing fire and police emergency services together under one roof. This provides the services with shared environments that facilitate streamlined operations, collaborative working, and subsequent cost savings. Princes Street Fire and Police Station is one of the final collaboration stations to be completed under this programme of works, providing shared facilities for the fire and police services within Ipswich.
Key Info
Type:
Refurbishing & Remodelling
Value:
£5.5 million
Location:
Ipswich, Suffolk
Client:
Suffolk County Council – Fire & Rescue and Suffolk Constabulary
Contractor:
R G Carter Southern Ltd
End Users:
Suffolk Fire & Rescue and Suffolk Constabulary
Contract Type:
JCT Standard
Disciplines:
Architecture, CDM, Landscape Architecture, Project Management, Quantity Surveying + Cost Consultancy, Structural + Civil Engineering
Imagery
Scope
Our programme of works for this project involved the complete internal and external refurbishment, reconfiguration, and alterations to the existing 1980’s Princes Street Fire Station.
The aim of the project was to convert the outdated building, which was no longer fit for purpose, into a blue light hub for use by Fire and Police. For works to begin on site the Princes Street Fire Service needed to be relocated into a temporary modular building for 12 months during the construction works. This involved close communication between the Project Manager, Fire Service Client, and site users to ensure a seamless relocation of staff and the transference of the call out infrastructure to the new site to make sure the move would not be detrimental to the Service.
The works included the demolition of the building back to its structural concrete frame to refurbish and remodel the building. The fire appliance bay was demolished and replaced by a two storey block with fire appliance bays on the ground floor and offices and fire service dormitories on the first floor. Further facilities provided include a lecture room, interview rooms, police locker and kit bag area, public enquiry office, reception area, external help point telephone facility, car parking for operational police vehicles, and landscaping works. Electric charging points were included for fire and police vehicles.
Our Architectural team designed the building to incorporate stone cladding to enhance the appearance of the building and the area it is located in, working closely with Suffolk County Council Planners. An additional requirement from the client and end users was the incorporation of a firefighter’s pole to facilitate quick access from the fire service dormitories to the ground floor. This is a complex requirement which our design teams worked into the structural and architectural plans for the building. Princes Street Station is the first station in Suffolk to have a firefighter’s pole.
Testimonial
“Delivering what you have achieved against the backdrop of the last 2 years in particular is a real achievement. I know you have gone above and beyond to try and mitigate the impacts of Covid, Brexit, supply chain issues and rising inflation. The new station is truly impressive and will hopefully remain as a landmark, and of course a vital public sector hub in Ipswich for the next 50 years.”
Dan Fearn, Deputy Chief Fire Officer and Head of Service, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, Fire and Public Safety Directorate
Result
The client was heavily involved throughout each stage of the project.
This collaborative working between designers, contractor, and client was essential to the progression of the project. Our close working relationship meant many obstacles were overcome quickly and effectively to prevent impacts to the programme. The Fire Service and Police Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) have moved in and are now operating from the new station. This project offers a functional Fire and Police Station which is modern and addresses the present-day service requirements for the blue light services in the centre of Ipswich.