Plans to demolish Avonmouth Fire Station and replace it with new £4m building has been given the green light by Bristol City Council planners.
The St Andrew's Road fire station was built in 1958 but it is now due to be knocked down to make way for a “modern, fit-for purpose” building.
As part of the redesign, the fire station will finally get “decent” showers and changing rooms for female firefighters.
Avon Fire & Rescue Service has said the new station, costing circa £4m, will help improve response, operational efficiency and prevention work for both staff and the community.
Following an 18-month build, the new station, which will be demolished in stages, will feature five new double depth appliance bays, office and accommodation facilities, a lecture theatre, training and skills provision.
It has been designed by building consultancy firm AHR.
Stuart Howison, major projects manager AF&RS, said: “The redevelopment of Avonmouth is the first station in our ‘Reinvesting for the Future Programme’ and supports our plan to make our communities safer and making our service stronger.
“The proposed redevelopment is both modern in design, whilst maintaining and improving operational functionality.”
A two-storey accommodation wing has been designed to improve response time to ‘call outs’, as well as include amenities and working areas that are better suited to staff.
Further facilities benefiting firefighters include a new kitchen and dining area, modernised change facilities and showers, as well as individual quiet rooms which provide valuable space for staff to relax and take a break in.
Avonmouth, Bath and Weston-super-Mare fire stations will all see investment over the next five years following condition surveys which found them to be most in need of redevelopment.
The fire station will be upgraded using funds from the £18million sale of Avon Fire and Rescue Service’s former headquarters in Temple Back.
Karle Burford, director at AHR, said: "It’s been a pleasure to be a part of Avon Fire & Rescue Services’ ‘Reinvesting for the Future’ programme and to be able to approach the needs of the local area collectively.
“Avonmouth Fire Station is another positive step in empowering firefighters to deliver their work in the best possible way – significantly enhancing the site with a new, highly functional fire station, as well as importantly providing them with contemporary, appropriate and comfortable facilities in which they can spend extended periods of time in.”
