Torfaen County Borough Council’s planning committee consented to the scheme for the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS), which will see the existing outdated 1950s fire station in New Road replaced with a ‘wholetime’ station with multiple watches operating from the same facility.
Designed to maximise spatial efficiency and operational functionality, Lawray’s proposals for a larger two-storey station will provide a shared community room, a gym, a hot desk area, seven dormitories, a mess room, and offices.
A new ‘Crofton’ training tower will be provided in the rear yard together with a designated space for road traffic accident training. Thirty-two parking spaces including three disabled bays will be provided together with a cycle store.
Careful consideration is given to ongoing building maintenance, with all elevations and roofs made easily accessible and designed using robust, low-maintenance materials.
To meet SWFRS’s commitment to reducing its ecological footprint, the new station will be an exemplary net zero carbon in operation building. Energy efficiency will be prioritised by implementing advanced insulation techniques, high-efficiency HVAC systems, and integrated intelligent lighting controls. Renewable energy will be incorporated with roof-mounted solar panels and air-source heat pumps. Water saving measures include rainwater harvesting, low-flow fixtures, efficient irrigation systems and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDs).
Net zero calculations and ventilation requirement assessments undertaken by M&E engineers McCann and Partners highlighted the need for numerous vents on the outside of the building, which influenced the design of openable windows and louvers. Sustainable materials with low embodied carbon and effective construction management practices will reduce waste.
Outside biodiversity will be enhanced by providing a landscaped habitat for local flora and fauna using native plant species.
The project is being delivered as part of the SWFRS Construction Framework, where over the last six years, Lawray has delivered over 20 schemes from small refurbishment projects and Compartment Fire Behaviour Training (CFBT) facilities to larger new stations.
