Balfour Beatty reaches financial close on £48m fire station scheme

Balfour Beatty has reached financial close on a £48m public private partnership scheme for North West Fire & Rescue Services – with the firm investing £5.5m into the wholly-owned concession.

The concession spans a 25 year period and involves the funding, design, construction and provision of facilities management for 16 community fire stations.

The stations will also include facilities for community use, such as meeting rooms and gyms. Seven of the stations will be built in Merseyside, five in Cumbria and four in Lancashire.

Construction will begin on five of the stations this month, with all works due to be completed by 2013.

Ian Tyler, chief executive with Balfour Beatty, said: “We are delighted that Balfour Beatty has reached financial close for the UK fire service’s biggest PPP project to date.

“The upgrade of the stations will help meet the changing needs and support the modern practices of the fire and rescue service, and provide a better environment for working, learning and training.”