New Build Project Rastrick Fire Station

Calderdale District

Station commander Andrew Crowther Project Co-ordinator District

Foreword

West Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) has been extremely successful in reducing the amount of fire calls it receives over the last decade. This has been achieved by a number of initiatives such as our Home Fire Safety Check for householders. This reduction, as well as a drive from Central Government for greater efficiency savings, has lead us to look at how we can provide the best operational cover for the resources allocated. The relocation and merging of stations allows us to place those available resources in optimum geographical positions based on the risks communities face. The current Fire Station was built in 1971 and will be replaced along with Station by the new facility at Rastrick. It is part of a range of changes across the county which will enable us to continue to provide community protection and response services to the highest possible standards across the whole of . The siting of the new station at the junction of Clough Lane and Slade Lane has been chosen for its good access to Elland, Brighouse, the M62 and surrounding areas. The new station will be staffed by a crew of five firefighters 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Staff will be selected from the former Elland and Brighouse stations keeping a high level of local knowledge at Rastrick. The crew are also one of West Yorkshire’s specialist water rescue and flood response teams. We are keen to be good neighbours, both during and after construction, so the routine work of the fire station when complete will be organised to keep any disturbance to an absolute minimum. A new provision will be the inclusion of a fully accessible multi-purpose room which will be available for community use and may be shared with our service partners such as neighbourhood policing teams. The new station is due to open in April 2015 and will ensure a continued fire service presence in the local communities we have served in the past, for many years to come.

The current Elland Fire Station - constructed in 1965

Introduction to project

Following a strategic review of services through the Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) process, WYFRS are implementing the construction of a number of new fire stations throughout West Yorkshire. The construction of the new fire station at Rastrick is key in achieving full implementation of the IRMP. It was imperative that if this development, along with other new fire station developments, was to be a success, a comprehensive early design brief would need to be established. This would set down the operational and functional characteristics of the building and the associated ancillary areas. Following the recent completion of new fire station projects at Site Location Clough Lane, Rastrick Pontefract and Normanton, WYFRS were keen to embody the success of those projects into this and other new fire station developments. However it was clear that operational requirements have moved forward since and as such a new approach should be explored. The development of the detailed design brief took place over several months and was built around input from all major stakeholders including the eventual building users.

View looking West along Clough Lane View looking East along Clough Lane

The Design

During the development of the design brief the following key requirements became evident:

Size Spaces must be compact yet retain operational functionality. Oversized spaces should be avoided.

Relationships The internal spaces must be designed so as to allow quick and efficient movement between rooms and circulation routes with particular emphasis on routes to vehicle bays to ensure effective emergency turn out ability.

Value Best value in construction costs must be attained. Layouts should be simple and straightforward which will in turn promote simple methods of construction. The design successfully addresses all of the above key requirements. In order for the fire service to continue to provide the best possible level of service to the community it is essential that regular training is undertaken. The following are essential requirements and are included in the development: • Training Tower • Road Traffic Collision (RTC) Training Area

Use

The proposed development will provide for a new three bay operational fire station. There will be a single building situated on the site which will provide all of the necessary accommodation for the fire service personnel and associated vehicles. The accommodation will comprise of a three bay vehicle garage, offices, dormitory and rest and recreation areas. Ancillary to the building there will be a service yard to the rear and car parking areas to the side and rear.

Layout The layout is mostly dictated by the operational requirements of the fire station in order that it can function efficiently, effectively and safely. Certain site restrictions such as the existing topography, have contributed to the arrangement of the proposed layout. Operational requirements dictate that fire service vehicles must re-enter the site via the service yard thus allowing them to drive forwards into the vehicle bays within the building. The fire appliances will then be in the required location and correct orientation for the next emergency turn out. The existing site topography has contributed in determining the position of the building on the site. A minimum 15 metre turn out apron along the frontage is also required thus further dictating the buildings position on the site.

Appearance

Every effort has been made to ensure that the proposed development will be sympathetic to the local environment in which it is located. The traditional metal clad walls and roofs commonly associated with a building of this nature have been abandoned in favour of a more ‘traditional’ construction ethos. Certain aspects of the building are defined by the nature of the use, for example the vehicle access/egress doors are a fundamental requirements to allow the functional operation of the building. These are perhaps one of the most prominent features which define the fire station from other buildings. The ancillary accommodation has been carefully considered and designed to provide for a relatively low rise appearance. Stone walls and slate roofs are wildly utilised on existing buildings in the vicinity and it is proposed to employ similar, complimentary materials for this development.

Scale

Careful consideration has been given to the scale of the building. The overall maximum height of the building (over the vehicle bay portion) will be approximately 9.25 metres although the eaves heights will be considerably lower due to the ‘traditional’ pitched roof arrangement. As the building sits relatively low on the site this helps further reduce the overall perceived scale of the building. The office, dormitory, rest and community areas will be located in a two storey portion of the building with the dormitory portion being located in the roof space which helps keep rooflines to a minimum. The service yard is approximately 900 square metres in area and deep enough to allow the manoeuvring of a typical fire service vehicle. The size of the service yard is representative of the typical minimum operational requirements for a fire station of this nature. The level of car parking provision has been determined from the experiences of the fire authority on other operational sites. The provision for this scheme is seven spaces for staff and six spaces for visitors. Five wall mounted bicycle stands will also be provided. Community Access There is also a fully accessible multi-function room which will be available for use by community groups or community liaison work on request.

Ground Floor Plans

The plans show the appliance bays which will contain one fire engine (with room for a spare) and the location of the Water Rescue vehicle and boat. The multi-use space / room is a facility which local communities will be able to access on request. Simple refreshment facilities will be available within the room and a fully accessible disabled toilet is located next to the entrance. From the car parking areas the building is easily accessed via level surfaces up to the main entrance. The internal rooms are constructed from painted block work which provides a cost effective and robust finish suitable for the functions of an operational fire station.

First Floor

This area is accessible for operational staff only and includes shower areas, personal lockers and rest facilities.

Elevations

Externally the building has been designed to complement the materials found in the surrounding properties, therefore a mix of brick and artificial stone is proposed for the walls, with artificial slate for the pitched roof.

Efficiency

The new station will provide a far higher level of efficiency than those that it replaces. The building will benefit from such design features as LED lighting, extensive use of materials with an enhanced level of building fabric thermal performance and water collection systems to capture the water used during training for re-use.

Access Proposed programme Contact

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority The following estimated timelines will show the Project Co-ordinator actively promotes a Disability Equality Scheme key dates for the project: (DES) throughout the entire service. Andrew Crowther  Appoint construction contractor Calderdale District The scheme design will take into account the February 2014 Skircoat Moor Road above commitment. King Cross  Site occupied by constructor It is anticipated that general visitor traffic to Halifax March 2014 and from the new fire station will be from HX1 3JT within the immediate local area. In most cases  Construction complete t 01422 386856 visits to the station by visitors would be by March 2015 e [email protected] foot. A nominal amount of parking (five spaces  Station operational plus one accessible parking space) for visitors April 2015 is provided. Building Design

We have a strong and genuine commitment Bradshaw, Gass and Hope LLP from all staff to ensure equality and diversity in Other West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue www.bghbolton.co.uk everything we do and to continue making a Service fire stations under planned difference within the various communities that construction: we serve.  York Road, Killingbeck, Leeds Contractors Our Ambition:  Carlton Road, Batley Carr, Dewsbury TBA Making West Yorkshire Safer  South Kirkby Business Park, South Our Aim: Kirkby

Provide an excellent fire and rescue  Carlton Lane, Rothwell, Leeds service working in partnership to reduce death, injury, economic loss and contribute to community well being.