Bath and North East Somerset Council has granted approval to demolish the ageing Bath Fire Station and construct a new, state-of-the-art facility in its place. This decision comes despite ongoing government review of whether the 1938 building should receive Grade II listed status.
The historic fire station, a notable classical building from the 1930s, is considered by many heritage campaigners to be an architectural treasure and one of the last classical structures in Bath before postwar modernism took hold. The Twentieth Century Society has also highlighted its significance as a rare work by female architect Molly Gerrard (née Taylor). Historic England had recommended listing, but the government initially declined, stating the building was “not sufficiently special.” That decision is currently under review.
At a planning committee meeting on November 19, members unanimously supported Avon Fire and Rescue Service’s proposal to replace the fire station with a modern facility better suited to current safety, accessibility, and operational needs. Assistant Chief Fire Officer Luke Gazzard emphasized that the current building’s infrastructure is outdated and unsafe. Key issues include appliance bay doors too narrow for modern fire engines, forcing some vehicles to be stored off-site, and structural damage from ground movement and water infiltration, affecting even the iconic drill tower.
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Councillors and firefighters described the existing conditions as inadequate, with crumbling plaster, water leaks, broken heating, and closed fireman’s poles. The new station plans feature wider and taller bays capable of accommodating six vehicles, improved decontamination areas, and essential welfare facilities for staff wellbeing.
Relocating the fire station off-site is not a viable option as on-call firefighters are required to live within five minutes of the current location. A temporary station will be used during construction.
Although the historic building will be demolished, efforts will be made to preserve key elements, including reclaiming the original fireman’s pole and the crest from the facade, which will be prominently displayed in the new station’s public entrance.
Planning officers recommended approval, stating the emergency service’s operational needs and public safety priorities outweigh the loss of the aging heritage structure. They also noted the fire service’s crucial role in protecting Bath’s rich collection of more significant historic buildings and heritage assets, including the World Heritage Site.
Local councillors expressed mixed feelings but generally agreed that replacing the fire station was necessary. Councillor Eleanor Jackson observed, “We have here what must have been a state-of-the-art building in 1938, designed for the Blitz, but we are in a different century now.” Meanwhile, concerns for maintaining modern safety standards and working conditions for firefighters were prioritized.
The final planning permission will be granted once legal agreements are finalized. Should the government decide to list the building before permission is granted, the council pledges to revisit the application.