Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AFRS) has announced plans to vacate the shared headquarters it currently occupies with Avon & Somerset Constabulary in Portishead, opting instead to relocate to its existing training base at Severn Park in Avonmouth. Since 2017, AFRS has operated from the joint police and fire site, but with the collaborative agreement at Severn Park ending in March 2028, the service is preparing to assume full control of the facility.
Severn Park Training Centre, located on Smoke Lane, has been managed under a private finance initiative (PFI) since 2002, jointly used by AFRS along with Devon & Somerset and Gloucestershire fire services. As the lead service responsible for half of the shared costs, AFRS plans to transition Severn Park into its new headquarters, maintaining its established training facilities while repurposing office spaces. The move is scheduled for winter 2028.
A spokesperson for AFRS highlighted the strategic advantage of this transition: “With the PFI concluding, we have a unique opportunity to fully utilize the Severn Park site under our control and tailor it to meet our operational and corporate needs.” The new headquarters will continue to support essential training activities, including fire behavior instruction, recruit education, road traffic collision response training, and classroom courses.
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To ensure the relocation meets staff requirements, AFRS has formed a steering group tasked with evaluating all dimensions of the move—logistical, financial, environmental, and organizational. A staff survey has been distributed to gather input on office configurations, meeting room numbers, and workspace functionality, emphasizing a working environment that supports and engages personnel.
The service is committed to a proactive, transparent planning process, aiming to keep staff, partners, and the public informed at every stage. Meanwhile, Avon & Somerset Police plans to take over the vacated space at the current shared headquarters by December 2028.