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24 February 2023
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Fire stations of the world: New Horsham Fire Station and Training Centre is named after the Queen, West Sussex , UK
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Horsham’s new fire station and training centre currently under construction off the A24 in West Sussex in the UK is to be named after the late Queen Elizabeth II. West Sussex County Council and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service have decided to name the new building ‘Platinum House’ in honour of the late Queen’s 70-year reign. An official topping out ceremony has been held to mark the construction milestone at the site of the new Horsham Fire Station and Training Centre.
Sustainability is at the heart of the project, with a strong emphasis on renewable energy sources such as solar panels and air source heat pumps to provide heating, as well as electric vehicle charging points, in-line with the county council’s drive to become carbon neutral by 2030.
The development will include:
State-of-the-art training facility
The facility will incorporate a state-of-the-art training facility together with a new fire station to serve Horsham and the surrounding area. This will be the first training facility in the county for fire fighters. The project will replace the current Horsham Fire Station in Hurst Road. The new training centre will ensure that West Sussex’s fire fighters continue to have the skills and knowledge to keep residents safe for years to come.
The facilities will immerse fire fighters in real-life operational situations making them better equipped and skilled to keep the communities of West Sussex and surrounding areas safe. It will also let fire fighters train in realistic scenarios including working at height.
Named after her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
West Sussex County Council and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service have taken the decision to name the new building Platinum House in honour of her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
West Sussex County Council’s Leader Paul Marshall, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, Duncan Crow and Cabinet Member for Finance Jeremy Hunt attended the event alongside West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer Sabrina Cohen-Hatton and Deputy Chief Fire Officer Mark Andrews to mark the topping-out of the site. The tradition marks the completion of the structural phase of the project, with the highest point of the building being put in place.
The occasion was celebrated with the burying of a time capsule at the site which contains a number of items from the existing fire station on Hurst Road. Other items included photographs of the crews at Horsham, a medal from The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service badges.
The capsule will be opened in 50 years’ time in 2072 by a future generation of fire fighters at Horsham Fire Station.
West Sussex County Council’s appointed contractor, Willmott Dixon, began work at the site last November and it is due to be completed in 2023.
Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, Duncan Crow, said, “We are honoured to be able to name our brand new, industry-leading fire station and training centre in honour of Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The topping out ceremony marks a significant point in the construction project and I was incredibly impressed at the pace with which this new site has progressed. With thanks to Willmott Dixon, the service is now one step closer to using their state-of-the-art fire station and training centre. This will become a fantastic new landmark for our county, and I am looking forward to seeing the facilities become an integrated part of our fire and rescue service.”
Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, Chief Fire Officer of West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, added, “The new facilities will provide our staff with more opportunities to train and develop their skills locally, without having to travel further afield. The site will allow our firefighters to simulate more than 50 realistic training scenarios to ensure they are prepared to respond to a wide range of incidents, ultimately keeping them and the communities they serve, safe. This project represents substantial investment in our service from the county council to create an industry-leading training centre and fire station to serve the residents of Horsham for many years to come.”
The training centre will be the first of its type in the county and will allow fire fighters to train in a wide range of realistic scenarios, such as live fire conditions, working from height and road traffic collisions. This will further enhance the skills and professionalism of our staff enabling them to continue serving the residents and communities of West Sussex.
Russell Miller, director at Willmott Dixon’s Crawley office, said, “We are delighted to have reached a key milestone at the Horsham fire station and training centre, which once complete will provide our fire fighters with a world class facility that supports their brilliant work. We look forward to completing the project and seeing it enter service.”
Sources: West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Willmott Dixon
Sustainability is at the heart of the project, with a strong emphasis on renewable energy sources such as solar panels and air source heat pumps to provide heating, as well as electric vehicle charging points, in-line with the county council’s drive to become carbon neutral by 2030.
The development will include:
- A fire station in the centre of the site, consisting of appliance bays, office space, training rooms, bedrooms and community space;
- A Live-Fire Training Facility (LFTF) located towards the southern end of the site. This will use a system in which the smoke will emit as a colourless, odourless haze;
- A building for housing breathing apparatus;
- A Cold Smoke Training Tower (CSTT) within the centre of the eastern part of the site that would use a water-based system;
- A four-bay garage for training appliances, located at the north eastern corner of the site;
- Car parking, plus electric vehicle charging capability;
- An above ground water tank for the sprinkler system and potential underground LPG storage;
- Primary vehicular access from the north of the site.
State-of-the-art training facility
The facility will incorporate a state-of-the-art training facility together with a new fire station to serve Horsham and the surrounding area. This will be the first training facility in the county for fire fighters. The project will replace the current Horsham Fire Station in Hurst Road. The new training centre will ensure that West Sussex’s fire fighters continue to have the skills and knowledge to keep residents safe for years to come.
The facilities will immerse fire fighters in real-life operational situations making them better equipped and skilled to keep the communities of West Sussex and surrounding areas safe. It will also let fire fighters train in realistic scenarios including working at height.
Named after her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
West Sussex County Council and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service have taken the decision to name the new building Platinum House in honour of her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
West Sussex County Council’s Leader Paul Marshall, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, Duncan Crow and Cabinet Member for Finance Jeremy Hunt attended the event alongside West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer Sabrina Cohen-Hatton and Deputy Chief Fire Officer Mark Andrews to mark the topping-out of the site. The tradition marks the completion of the structural phase of the project, with the highest point of the building being put in place.
The occasion was celebrated with the burying of a time capsule at the site which contains a number of items from the existing fire station on Hurst Road. Other items included photographs of the crews at Horsham, a medal from The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service badges.
The capsule will be opened in 50 years’ time in 2072 by a future generation of fire fighters at Horsham Fire Station.
West Sussex County Council’s appointed contractor, Willmott Dixon, began work at the site last November and it is due to be completed in 2023.
Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, Duncan Crow, said, “We are honoured to be able to name our brand new, industry-leading fire station and training centre in honour of Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The topping out ceremony marks a significant point in the construction project and I was incredibly impressed at the pace with which this new site has progressed. With thanks to Willmott Dixon, the service is now one step closer to using their state-of-the-art fire station and training centre. This will become a fantastic new landmark for our county, and I am looking forward to seeing the facilities become an integrated part of our fire and rescue service.”
Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, Chief Fire Officer of West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, added, “The new facilities will provide our staff with more opportunities to train and develop their skills locally, without having to travel further afield. The site will allow our firefighters to simulate more than 50 realistic training scenarios to ensure they are prepared to respond to a wide range of incidents, ultimately keeping them and the communities they serve, safe. This project represents substantial investment in our service from the county council to create an industry-leading training centre and fire station to serve the residents of Horsham for many years to come.”
The training centre will be the first of its type in the county and will allow fire fighters to train in a wide range of realistic scenarios, such as live fire conditions, working from height and road traffic collisions. This will further enhance the skills and professionalism of our staff enabling them to continue serving the residents and communities of West Sussex.
Russell Miller, director at Willmott Dixon’s Crawley office, said, “We are delighted to have reached a key milestone at the Horsham fire station and training centre, which once complete will provide our fire fighters with a world class facility that supports their brilliant work. We look forward to completing the project and seeing it enter service.”
Sources: West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Willmott Dixon
