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22 March 2024
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Fire stations of the world: West Sussex Fire and Rescue Services’ new fire station and training centre, Platinum House, officially opened, UK
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Platinum House, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service’s brand new Training Centre and Fire Station for Horsham, was officially opened on Tuesday, 28 November 2023, by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex, Lady Emma Barnard. The multi-million-pound site commissioned by West Sussex County Council, is the first of its type in the county. Named Platinum House in honour of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, it replaces the previous fire station in Hurst Road, which was built in 1968. Platinum House incorporates a state-of-the-art training facility together with a new fire station to serve Horsham and the surrounding area.
The new training centre will ensure that West Sussex’s firefighters continue to have the skills and knowledge to keep residents safe for years to come.
The site incorporates a number of different training environments that immerse firefighters in real-life operational situations. This includes a state-of-the-art live fire training facility, a cold smoke training tower, an immersive incident command suite, and a road traffic collision training area.
The fire station consists of appliance bays, office space, training rooms, staff bedrooms and a community space. The site is staffed by wholetime firefighters 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as a unit of retained firefighters.
Platinum House's green credentials
Sustainability is at the heart of the new fire station and training centre. A strong emphasis has been placed on the use of the latest technology and renewable energy sources to minimise the site’s environmental footprint, which supports the county council’s drive to become carbon neutral by 2030.
The site features solar panels and electric vehicle charging points, as well as air source heat pumps which provide heating.
Platinum House is accessed via a new road off The Boulevard, which WSFRS staff have chosen to name Macfarlane Way in memory of Station Manager John Macfarlane who passed away in 2013.
During a ceremony held at the new facility at Highwood Village, invited guests were given a tour of the new facility and watched a demonstration in the station’s drillyard.
The Chairman of West Sussex County Council, Pete Bradbury, said, “This is a momentous occasion for West Sussex County Council and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service as we reach the culmination of a commitment to build an industry-leading new facility to ensure our firefighters are equipped with the skills that they need to keep us all safe in the event of an emergency. The building represents far more than bricks and mortar; it represents our vision for the future. Platinum House becoming operational marks the start of a new era for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.”
The Leader of West Sussex County Council, Paul Marshall, said, “Horsham has a long and proud history of firefighters who have worked tirelessly to keep people safe, and to be there to support them in their hour of need. I wonder what the firefighters from days gone by, dressed in brass helmets and wool tunics, would make of Platinum House today? Not least the considerable steps forward in firefighter safety and best practice but even down to the way we power the building through the use of green energy sources.
“I suspect they would be in awe of this remarkable facility, and it is in their memory that we dedicate the opening of Platinum House as we look to a long and prosperous new chapter of the fire service in Horsham and beyond across the whole of West Sussex.”
Chief Fire Officer, Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, said, “On behalf of West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service I would like to put on record our thanks as a service to the Leader of West Sussex County Council, our Cabinet Member and the Cabinet for understanding the vision we had to deliver a first-class facility here - not just for the residents of Horsham but all of our communities in West Sussex. In the year that we marked the coronation of King Charles III we are honoured to pay tribute to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by naming Platinum House in her memory.
“Platinum House will serve as a reminder to us all of our Late Queen’s remarkable public service over 70 years. The state-of-the-art training centre and new fire station for Horsham will ensure that West Sussex’s firefighters continue to have the skills and knowledge to keep residents safe for years to come.”
The future
In September 2022 members of West Sussex County Councils’ Cabinet, and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service’s Service Executive Board buried a time capsule on site, containing a number of items and photographs from the service’s history.
The capsule is buried underneath the flagpole and will be opened in September 2072.
Source: West Sussex County
The new training centre will ensure that West Sussex’s firefighters continue to have the skills and knowledge to keep residents safe for years to come.
The site incorporates a number of different training environments that immerse firefighters in real-life operational situations. This includes a state-of-the-art live fire training facility, a cold smoke training tower, an immersive incident command suite, and a road traffic collision training area.
The fire station consists of appliance bays, office space, training rooms, staff bedrooms and a community space. The site is staffed by wholetime firefighters 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as a unit of retained firefighters.
Platinum House's green credentials
Sustainability is at the heart of the new fire station and training centre. A strong emphasis has been placed on the use of the latest technology and renewable energy sources to minimise the site’s environmental footprint, which supports the county council’s drive to become carbon neutral by 2030.
The site features solar panels and electric vehicle charging points, as well as air source heat pumps which provide heating.
Platinum House is accessed via a new road off The Boulevard, which WSFRS staff have chosen to name Macfarlane Way in memory of Station Manager John Macfarlane who passed away in 2013.
During a ceremony held at the new facility at Highwood Village, invited guests were given a tour of the new facility and watched a demonstration in the station’s drillyard.
The Chairman of West Sussex County Council, Pete Bradbury, said, “This is a momentous occasion for West Sussex County Council and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service as we reach the culmination of a commitment to build an industry-leading new facility to ensure our firefighters are equipped with the skills that they need to keep us all safe in the event of an emergency. The building represents far more than bricks and mortar; it represents our vision for the future. Platinum House becoming operational marks the start of a new era for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.”
The Leader of West Sussex County Council, Paul Marshall, said, “Horsham has a long and proud history of firefighters who have worked tirelessly to keep people safe, and to be there to support them in their hour of need. I wonder what the firefighters from days gone by, dressed in brass helmets and wool tunics, would make of Platinum House today? Not least the considerable steps forward in firefighter safety and best practice but even down to the way we power the building through the use of green energy sources.
“I suspect they would be in awe of this remarkable facility, and it is in their memory that we dedicate the opening of Platinum House as we look to a long and prosperous new chapter of the fire service in Horsham and beyond across the whole of West Sussex.”
Chief Fire Officer, Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, said, “On behalf of West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service I would like to put on record our thanks as a service to the Leader of West Sussex County Council, our Cabinet Member and the Cabinet for understanding the vision we had to deliver a first-class facility here - not just for the residents of Horsham but all of our communities in West Sussex. In the year that we marked the coronation of King Charles III we are honoured to pay tribute to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by naming Platinum House in her memory.
“Platinum House will serve as a reminder to us all of our Late Queen’s remarkable public service over 70 years. The state-of-the-art training centre and new fire station for Horsham will ensure that West Sussex’s firefighters continue to have the skills and knowledge to keep residents safe for years to come.”
The future
In September 2022 members of West Sussex County Councils’ Cabinet, and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service’s Service Executive Board buried a time capsule on site, containing a number of items and photographs from the service’s history.
The capsule is buried underneath the flagpole and will be opened in September 2072.
Source: West Sussex County
