Shadwell fire station gets makeover after 100 years as part of �57m deal

The oldest surviving fire station in London’s East End is being rebuilt as part of a Fire Brigade deal with private contractors.

Shadwell, which marked its centenary in 2010, is one of nine fire stations across London which are to be rebuilt and then maintained by the Blue3 Group in a �57 million private finance contract.

Work is expected to start in June next year, once planning consent is given, but Shadwell will continue operating while refurbishment at the Cable Street site is carried out.

The Brigade, which is applying to Tower Hamlets Council for planning permission in the next 12 months, is now working on arrangements to ensure emergency cover is not interrupted.

Three other fire-stations in east London are also being refurbished in the deal, Plaistow, Leytonstone and Dagenham, in addition to two in south-east London, Dockhead in Bermondsey and the Old Kent Road, and three others at Orpington, Purley and Mitcham.

Brigade Assistant Commissioner Andy Hickmott said: “Some fire stations are more than 100 years old and are simply not fit for modern purposes. They need to be brought up-to-date.”

The private funding provides investment without dipping into the public purse. The deal means a project like a new fire station is designed, built, financed and operated by a private consortium under a contract that would typically last 30 years.

The last major revamp in the East End was the new Millwall fire station opened four years ago on the Isle of Dogs, close to Canary Wharf, replacing the one in Manchester Road first opened in 1905.