Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AFRS) has announced plans to leave its current shared headquarters with Avon & Somerset Police, located in Portishead, and move to its existing training base at Severn Park in Avonmouth. Since 2017, AFRS has cohabited the Portishead site with the police, but changes looming in shared agreements have prompted this strategic decision.
Currently, AFRS shares the Severn Park Training Centre with Devon & Somerset and Gloucestershire fire services under a joint arrangement due to expire in March 2028. As the lead service responsible for half of the total costs, AFRS intends to take full ownership and operational control of the facility once the existing private finance initiative (PFI) contract concludes. This PFI has been in place since 2002, involving the three fire services.
The plan is for Severn Park to serve as both training hub and the new headquarters for AFRS, with the transition targeted for winter 2028. The service aims to maintain its extensive training programs at the site, including fire behaviour exercises, recruit training, road traffic collision preparedness, and classroom sessions, while repurposing office and meeting spaces to better support its staff.
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AFRS has established a steering group to oversee the move and ensure thoughtful consideration of risks and logistics, including environmental and financial factors. Staff input is actively encouraged through a survey designed to gather feedback on workspace needs, such as meeting room availability, office configurations, and ways to enhance daily employee engagement and support.
A spokesperson emphasized the service’s commitment to transparency and inclusiveness throughout the process, affirming that ongoing communication with employees, partners, and the public will remain a priority.
Meanwhile, Avon & Somerset Police is preparing to reclaim the space currently occupied by AFRS at the Portishead headquarters, with a planned takeover by December 2028.