'Essential' New Fire Station Could Be Built In Island Coastal Town

East Cowes could get an ‘essential’ new fire station, replacing the previously demolished one.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) submitted a planning application to County Hall for a replacement building.

HIWFRS’s plans include a station with a Response Unit and Fleet Maintenance Facility, car parking provision and landscaping.

A Design and Access Statement prepared by Boyle and Summers on behalf of HIWFRS said:

“Maintaining an operational fire station in East Cowes is essential, as it provides critical fire coverage to the northeast of the Isle of Wight, an area with significant marine, industrial, and heritage risks.

“The nearest alternative stations — Newport, Ryde, and Cowes — are over 15 minutes away, exceeding HIWFRS’s target response time of eight minutes.

“The previous fire station was structurally unsafe, beyond economic repair, and contained asbestos, necessitating complete demolition in September 2024.

“Likewise, the existing Fleet Maintenance Centre (FMC) at Newport Fire Station has reached the end of its economic life and requires significant investment for building fabric repairs.

“Therefore, the vacant site in East Cowes provided an opportunity to combine both facilities. The East Cowes site is ready for redevelopment.”

The proposed fire station has a ‘relatively traditional form’ with a ‘rectangular layout’ and ‘simple hipped roof’, Boyle and Summers said.

The council’s public consultation on application 25/00696/FUL ends on June 16 and a decision is due on July 9.