A NEW £6million fire station will be built in Basingstoke after the scheme was given the go-ahead.

As previously reported by The Gazette, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service applied to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for planning permission to demolish the current building at West Ham Close and to build a new fire station and training tower with a link to a new smoke training building.

And planning officers at the council have paved the way for the new fire station after approving the application on Tuesday.

The current station was built in 1966 but in the application, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said it is expensive to run and “lacks the facilities required by a modern fire service”.

The fire service also said that the improved facilities will provide modern living quarters for staff, including improved eating, sleeping and restroom facilities, and enhanced training facilities which will enable courses to be run from the station.

In addition, more space will be available to house 10 specialist vehicles that will be based at the station and community rooms will be built for use by the public.

During the construction of the new building, an existing office block and breathing apparatus training chamber will be used as a temporary station.

The modernised building is expected to take 16 months to be built and is hoped to be completed by the end of 2016.

Brian Rudman, group manager for Basingstoke, said: “We are delighted that our plans to rebuild our station at Basingstoke have been approved, and that the reality of a modern new facility for both our firefighters and the public has moved a step closer.

“This is an investment in the future of the town and a facility at the heart of the Basingstoke community that will last for many decades.”

He added: “As the county’s biggest station, this redevelopment is vital and will allow us to provide a stronger, more resilient service to north Hampshire.”

Construction work on the development is scheduled to start next summer between 7.30am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, and between 8am and 1pm on Saturdays. No construction work is set to take place on Sundays and bank holidays.