Willmott Dixon to Rebuild Bath Fire Station in £16.9m Project for Avon Fire & Rescue
The Avon Fire station site
Willmott Dixon has been awarded the contract to rebuild Bath Fire Station at the Cleveland Bridge site, with a project value of £16.9 million. Commissioned by Avon Fire & Rescue Service and procured through the Southern Construction Framework (SCF), the scheme involves demolishing the existing station, which dates back to 1938, and constructing a new, energy-efficient facility designed to operate at net zero emissions.
The replacement will be a two-storey building featuring a six-bay appliance hall alongside modern operational, welfare, and training areas tailored to the requirements of a contemporary fire and rescue service. Completion of the construction is planned for summer 2027.
Richard David, Director at Willmott Dixon in the west, commented: “The redevelopment of Bath Fire Station is a project we are incredibly proud to deliver. It will offer a modern, high-quality operational environment that will meet the demands of the firefighters at Avon Fire & Rescue, supporting them as they protect the community. We are looking forward to seeing the site transformed from the foundations to a landmark public building that will serve the city for decades to come.”
Chief Fire Officer Matt Cook said: “As we break ground on our new fire station at Bath, it’s a chance to celebrate all the hard work and effort it’s taken to reach this milestone and get excited for the next chapter in its redevelopment. I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s been involved in this project. Our staff have shown compassion, drive and resilience in delivering the planning for a building that best serves our communities for generations to come.”
Bath Fire Station, one of the oldest in the Avon Fire & Rescue Service estate, has been in urgent need of replacement. The new facility aims to maintain the service’s eight-minute response target while providing improved safety, health, rest, and wellbeing provisions for firefighters. Additionally, the design focuses on reducing long-term operational, repair, and maintenance costs through its energy-efficient, net zero operational model. The project also respects the heritage of its Bath surroundings.
During construction, firefighters will continue their duties from a temporary station located at Roseberry Place, Lower Bristol Road.
This project extends Willmott Dixon’s ongoing partnership with Avon Fire & Rescue Service, following previous new builds and refurbishments of fire stations in the Bristol area, including Kingswood, Hicks Gate, and Temple. It also contributes to the company’s expanding portfolio of emergency services facilities across the UK.
Recent Willmott Dixon projects include the £25.6 million Pendle Police Station in Lancashire, the £55 million redevelopment of Hertfordshire Constabulary’s headquarters in Welwyn Garden City, a new fire station and training centre for West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, a forensics centre for Thames Valley Police, and headquarters buildings for Dorset, Humberside, and Merseyside police forces.
Willmott Dixon is collaborating with architect Building Design Partnership (BDP), mechanical and electrical engineer Method Consulting, and structural engineer Craddy Pitchers to deliver the Bath Fire Station redevelopment.
