BDP Wins London Fire Stations PFI Deal

BDP is part of a consortium led by Kier which has been chosen by the London Fire Brigade as its PFI partner for a construction programme which will see nine ageing fire stations revamped across the capital.

The brief was for a new typology to accommodate community, larger appliances and a more diverse brigade – Community Fire Stations that are affordable, form a brand and are sustainable. Each project targets a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating which has been achieved within the competitive PFI environment. Passive design solutions including natural ventilation coupled with exposed thermal mass to ensure year round occupant comfort was adopted. Building form is driven by daylight modelling, and active mechanical installations are matched across all sites to assist in delivering a consistent facilities management approach.

Work will take place at  Dagenham,  Dockhead,  Leytonstone,  Mitcham, Old Kent Road, Orpington, Plaistow,  Purley and Shadwell fire stations. Eight of the stations are being completely re-built on their existing sites and one station, Mitcham, will be built on a new site.

London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Andy Hickmott said: “This is excellent news for the capital. Some of our fire stations are over 100 years old and are simply not fit for modern purposes. These stations need to be brought up to date and this project demonstrates our continuing commitment to maintaining the world class fire and rescue service that Londoners have come to expect.”

The Blue3 consortium, which includes BDP’s architects, building services, civil & structural engineers, landscape architects and planners, will design, build, finance and maintain the stations with construction work on the £57.4m programme due to start in June 2013.