Howden Fire Station New Build – Innovation through Collaboration

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Howden Fire Station New Build – Innovation through Collaboration

Construction has recently started on a complete rebuild of Humberside Fire & Rescue Service’s Howden Fire Station following demolition of its former station which had reached end-of-life.  The new on-call station has been fully redesigned to consider the latest guidance on contaminants, equality and dignity, whilst incorporating a number of innovative internal design features to futureproof its effectiveness.  With the project led by the Humberside Police and Fire Joint Estates Service in partnership with CA Barr Architects, plans were developed to maximise operational functionality on a site with limited external land to expand on its predecessor’s floorspace. 

Demolition of the old station took place at the beginning of 2025 whilst design and planning developments were underway for the new build.  Alongside this, the project team navigated the complex and lengthy process of liaison with telecoms providers whose mast ancillary equipment is housed on the site, requiring relocation to allow for the increased new build footprint.  The latter also posed the greatest risk of delays to the programme, as it was vital the area upon which it was sited was cleared and power disconnected to allow for the piled foundations to be completed; all whilst ensuring no outage to the telecoms signal which serves an expansive area surrounding Howden. 

Maintaining uptime required space for large on-site generators to power the masts on a temporary basis; space which was already at a premium when welfare cabins, large plant equipment and construction material storage was factored in.  However, this issue was ultimately resolved through the neighbouring landowner’s generosity, with them kindly offering the Fire Service use of their land for the duration of the construction phase to support site set-up for the new build.

Former Station Demolition Photographs – January 2025:

Working alongside East Riding of Yorkshire district’s Group Manager as operational lead, the design team took a collaborative approach to development of the final plans for the Station.  This triangulated approach allowed architectural principles to be applied to meet operational challenges, drawing upon knowledge of the wider Fire and Police estate to include features which have worked well elsewhere, as well as some pilot design innovations.   

One particular conundrum faced as a result of the limited room to expand was the provision of sufficiently sized changing facilities to account for a dynamic workforce gender mix, exacerbated by more recent fire fighter safety requirements to separate fire kit from other items of uniform.  As this element could not be addressed by a simple 50/50 split of locker spaces, nor could the make-up of on-call personnel be predicted in the longer term, an alternative solution had to be found within the minimal space available.  All this, whilst ensuring the wider station remained operationally functional and compliant with building, fire and DDA regulations, concentrated the focus of the design team on resolving the issue.

To address the challenge, the ground floor locker area was modelled to comprise one single rectangular space with access points at either end, with the addition of a moveable partition wall to separate the room to suit the staffing makeup at any point in time.  This allowed the number of personal locker spaces to be minimised to actual crewing numbers with limited contingency required, resulting in no wasted space in either the male or female changing zones when numbers fluctuate.  This design was implemented to maintain dignity and welfare for all without absorbing vital internal floor space or encroaching into the external fire training area.  Such flexibility will further negate the need for costly and disruptive remodelling work in the future to address varying staffing balances. 

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Flexible Changing Area Plan:

Whilst the first floor of the station was also primarily designed with operational requirements and staff welfare in mind, its secondary purpose as a wider fire service and community meeting space was an important consideration for the design team.  As much of the operational functionality of any fire station resides at ground level, the first floor comfortably offered space for self-contained shower and WC pods, a spacious gym, meeting facilities, a wellbeing room, and a communal soft seating and refreshment area.  To add an element of interest, the communal area also allows less frequent visitors to the station an opportunity to view the fire appliance in its bay from a safe, comfortable vantage point through the inclusion of an internal first floor window. 

In addition to the station’s operational functionality and welfare provision delivered through innovative architectural design, the ethos of sustainability and energy efficiency also featured prominently within the MEP strategy for the building.   In a complete transformation from the former Fire Station’s oil-fired heating system, its replacement will operate primarily through self-generated electrical power, incorporating solar PV panels to the expanse of the roof and an air source heat recovery system to service the facility. 

The exterior architecture of the station also complements the installation of modern sustainability features with its asymmetrical pitched roof, externally accessible plant room, and large but thermally efficient windows allowing light ingress with minimal heat loss to the building.  And modern though the station will be in terms of its internal design and functionality, its sympathetic and in-keeping appearance in the surrounding street scene remained an important consideration for the design team, opting for a traditional red brick façade and anthracite steel roof.  Finally, the decision to retain the existing fire training tower will see it undergo some minor cosmetic improvement, with plans to replace its doors and window shutters to complement the aesthetics of the new station.

This design premise will not only assist Humberside Fire & Rescue Service in achieving its net-zero ambition but will substantially reduce utility costs throughout the life of the building.  As such, the new Howden Fire Station will provide a blueprint for future new build on-call stations across Humberside when they reach the end of their functional life.

Architect Impression – Station Front Façade:

The new station, which remains under construction by Lindum Group Ltd. (York) with project management led by Sewell Advisory, is due to be completed in September 2026 for subsequent reoccupation by the Howden fire crews who have been operating from an alternative location in the area.

Once complete, the project is on course to have comprised a 28-month programme from concept to final occupation of the new facility.  Thereafter, it is envisaged that from this compact but innovative and sustainably designed station, Humberside Fire & Rescue Service will continue to serve Howden and its surrounding community for many years to come.

We look forward to welcoming the Howden on-call fire crews back to their permanent home and are sure their new station will provide a functional, safe and comfortable facility from which to operate.

Steel Frame Construction – January 2026:

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For more information please visit website humbersidefire.gov.uk/