Approval nears for Portsmouth fire station

Plans to build a new fire station in Portsmouth look set to advance.Vail Williams is behind the application, which was submitted on behalf of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue ServiceIt concerns a site on Northern Road, which currently comprises a collection of brick structures constructed during the 1960s.Portsmouth City Council owns the freehold on the site but is currently negotiating a land swap with the Fire Service for the existing station site to the south of this plot.The new station would provide 31,419 sq ft of internal floorspace and accommodate a range of features including overnight sleeping accommodation and facilities for overnight fire service staff, office floorspace, plant room, gym and storage space.Ancillary operations such as a training yard and training tower would be built to the southwest, with a community room and lecture room also set to be provided towards the eastern end of the main station building