Construction of the new £13.6 million Hereford Fire Station has reached a major milestone with the completion of the full steel frame.
This progress was marked with a steel-signing ceremony attended by representatives from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS), the OPCC Estates project team, the Fire Authority and main contractors Speller Metcalfe.
Chief Fire Officer Jon Pryce KFSM, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Ade Elliott and Councillor Roger Phillips OBE, Chair of the Fire Authority, joined the Speller Metcalfe project team, along with Speller Metcalfe’s Managing Director, Adrian Speller, and Regional Director, Mark Hudgeon, to sign one of the final steel beams.
The ceremony reflected the strong collaboration driving the project forward and marked the transition into the next phase of construction.
This milestone follows several months of preparatory work, including demolition of the existing fire station, installation of a temporary station to ensure continuity of service and the completion of extensive piling and groundworks.
With the steel structure now in place and the floors now largely complete, the project continues to progress efficiently and remains on track for completion in early 2027. The next stage of work will focus on developing the building envelope as the building begins to take shape externally.
Chief Fire Officer Jon Pryce KFSM, said: “We are delighted that our latest capital build project has reached this important stage, this will be an excellent facility of which we can all be proud. The new fire station meets the needs of the modern fire and rescue service and will help us deliver our core strategies of Response, Protection and Prevention to our communities. It’s a building with vastly improved facilities which will be more energy efficient and sustainable long into the future.”
Mark Hudgeon, regional director at Speller Metcalfe, added: “This milestone represents a key moment in the delivery of the new Hereford Fire Station, and it reflects the exceptional professionalism and partnership shown across the entire team. We’re proud to see the structure taking shape and are committed to maintaining this momentum as we move into the next phases of the build.”
In addition to construction activity, the team has been delivering wider community benefits. These include student work placements from colleges across the region, as well as engagement with local schools, such as a recent health and safety poster competition at Holmer Primary School.
Pupils across all year groups created artwork focused on key safety messages, with four students selected as winners after a tough judging session. Their artwork, along with runners-up posters from each year group, now features proudly across the site hoardings.
With several further activities already planned, the team will continue to deliver social value throughout the construction programme, ensuring that community benefit remains a key focus as the project progresses.
The project also achieved an outstanding score of 45/45 in its first Considerate Constructors Scheme assessment this January. The assessor praised the team’s communication, leadership and environmental responsibility, along with the high standard of site presentation.
Once complete, the new four-storey facility will provide a modern, efficient and future-ready base for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service. It will include four appliance bays, high-quality operational and training spaces, outdoor areas, a drill tower, the all-important firefighter’s pole and a range of sustainability features designed to support long-term environmental performance.
The project is being managed by the Office for Police and Crime Commissioners on behalf of Hereford ad Worcestershire Fire and Rescue Services, procured through the Pagabo framework and designed by Bond Bryan Architects.