Digging Begins For New Fire & Rescue HQ

Building work is underway on South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s new state-of-the-art headquarters and central fire station on Eyre Street, Sheffield.

Chief Fire Officer Mark Smitherman and the Fire Authority Chair Councillor Jim Andrews gathered at the site today (Thursday 12th July) to officially launch the beginning of construction.  Also present were the Leader of Sheffield City Council, Councillor Jan Wilson, Carolyn Kenney, Assistant Director, Hammerson, Projects Director Steve Baker from Balfour Beatty and Rob Pearson from English Partnerships.

Chief Fire Officer Smitherman said:  “We’re now one step closer to occupying an environmentally friendly, state-of-the-art building, which is more appropriate for our modern fire & rescue service.  It is pleasing to see that work has now started so that we can begin to look forward to the relocation and the opportunities this will bring, such as greater efficiency and an improved level of service to the public.”

Fire Authority Chair, Councillor Jim Andrews said: “This is the first physical step forward to creating a new 21st century fire headquarters and fire station. Building work is now underway and we can all look forward to seeing it progress over the coming months.”

The relocation and construction of the four storey, 59,000 sq ft building at Eyre Street is being funded by Hammerson plc, paving the way for Sheffield’s New Retail Quarter.

Designs for the new central fire station, control room and offices were approved on 5th June 2007. The completed HQ is expected to achieve a BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method*) “very good rating” and will incorporate a number of environmentally friendly features.

Rob Pearson from English Partnerships comments: “This is a monumental day for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and Sheffield’s New Retail Quarter. The Service’s existing Wellington Street site is pivotal to the NRQ, as it will become the location for the new John Lewis flagship store.”

Jan Wilson, leader of Sheffield City Council comments: "The New Retail Quarter is a fantastic opportunity for Sheffield, we have never said that this was going to be a quick process but this is the first milestone in making the NRQ a reality. Over the coming years we are going to see changes to the city which will result in a whole new retail offering, putting us among the top ten retail destinations in the UK."

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue expect to occupy the Eyre Street premises by August 2008.

Creating a new retail heart for Sheffield, the New Retail Quarter will provide 860,000ft² of prime retail including a new 260,000ft² John Lewis department store together with leisure facilities and residential accommodation. Construction of the NRQ is programmed to start in 2008, with the first retail buildings, including the new John Lewis department store and car park, to be completed in 2011. Hammerson is working in partnership with Sheffield City Council and English Partnerships to deliver the project.

-Ends-

Media enquiries:  Steve Chu, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
    Tel: 0114 253 2410
    Email: schu@syfire.gov.uk

NRQ related enquiries: Sarah Chapman or Louise Woodward, Dig For Fire PR
 Tel: 0114 281 1200  
 Email: nrq@digforfire.co.uk

* BREEAM is the world's most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. Buildings are assessed against a set criteria to provide an overall score which fall within a band providing either a; PASS, GOOD, VERY GOOD or EXCELLENT rating.
Notes to Editors:

• The Fire and Rescue Authority has certain statutory duties to perform that are set out in legislation. One of their most important functions is to be accountable to the public of South Yorkshire in securing the maintenance of an efficient and effective Fire and Rescue Service.

• The Authority funds South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and works closely with the Chief Fire Officer to decide how the service can be provided most effectively. As an equal opportunities employer, the Authority approves and monitors the Brigade’s recruitment, employment and training policies to achieve a balanced and well-trained workforce, which reflects the diversity of the local community.

• Hammerson plc is a FTSE-100 European Real Estate Investment Trust which operates principally in the retail sector. Its £6.7 billion portfolio, which provides I.3 million m2 of retail space and 275,000 m2 of offices, includes 14 major shopping centres and 18 retail parks. Hammerson has a track record successfully carrying out major city-centre regeneration projects. Recent award-winning developments include Bishops Square in London, Bullring in Birmingham, and WestQuay in Southampton. Hammerson is currently working with several councils to deliver retail-led mixed-use regeneration projects in cities including Aberdeen, Bristol, Leeds and Leicester. For more information, visit www.hammerson.com.