Work begins on new 'gender neutral' Surrey fire station with town's existing facility 'not fit for purpose'

The new facility is expected to be completed in 2026, and will be situated on the same site as it's former; on Croydon Road.
-Credit:Pick Everard


A new 'gender neutral' fire station is set to be built in a Surrey town and will mean that the existing building will be demolished to make way for the new purpose-built facility.

The assistant chief fire officer for Surrey Fire and Rescue Service has told SurreyLive that "work is well underway" on redeveloping Reigate Fire Station.

The new station has long been in the works and as far back as March 2019 a report presented to councillors at Surrey County Council argued that the current Reigate Fire Station, which was built in the 1950s, is "not fit for purpose and does not meet the needs of a modern fire and rescue service".

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More recently in December 2024; another station in the East Surrey region, Banstead Fire Station was also described as "no longer fit for purpose and needs to be replaced" by the brigade which runs it.

Facilities at the new Reigate station will include a new kitchen, gym and lounge space, as well as private rest rooms and shower facilities.

As a 24/7 operating base, energy management will also be central to the new fire station. Plans boast that an all-electric and solar solution will be installed to ensure the facility fits in with the local, regional and national net zero carbon initiatives.

As construction work is now due to get under way Councillor Natalie Bramhall, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Property, Infrastructure, and Waste, said: "We are making significant investments in our Fire and Rescue Service to ensure that we are providing Surrey’s firefighters with modern, state-of-the-art facilities which align with our net zero carbon ambitions and are fit for the future."

As a 24/7 operating base, energy management will also be central to the new station, the organisations behind the build are boasting it will be 'carbon neutral'
As a 24/7 operating base, energy management will also be central to the new station, the organisations behind the build are boasting it will be 'carbon neutral' -Credit:Pick Everard

The building of the fire station has been contracted to Neilcott Construction; an Employee Ownership Trust that operates in London and the South East. The project will be supported in the design and technical advisory stages by Pick Everard, a UK-based multi-disciplinary consultancy.

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Additionally, according to Pick Everard; to encourage more diverse recruitment into the Fire and Rescue sector, as well as maximise space and cost efficiencies; a gender-neutral design will be a crucial part of the new station.

Chris Gilbert, associate director at Pick Everard, said: "Renovating and modernising fire estates is a crucial undertaking in the blue light sector, ensuring our emergency services have the tools at their disposal to respond quickly to critical need."

As well as housing its crews, the new station will also provide a space for the South East Coast Ambulance Service, in an initiative which will encourage blue light partners across Surrey to work even closer with one another.

The training facility upgrades at the Croydon Road station are also part of Surrey County Council's wider plans. This will be the largest single investment in training for frontline staff in the sector's century-long history.