Robertson breaks ground on Whitefield blue-light project
Construction has started on a community fire station rebuild for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, led by the contractor’s North West division.
Located on Bury New Road, the new Whitefield Community Fire Station is part of GMFRS’s £38m estates improvement programme.
The new-build station will feature a reconfigured, more accessible layout and will be equipped with sustainable facilities, creating a modern fire station for the local community and beyond.
The delivery team includes Bradshaw Gass & Hope as architect and civil/structural engineer, DAY Project Management, and M&E engineer Harley Haddow.
Demolition of the previous structure took place in May, clearing the way for a two-storey building that will benefit from a revitalised appliance bay, training tower, improved landscaping, and upgraded parking facilities.
The old station has been removed. Credit: Robertson
Material from the demolition has been repurposed to create the substrate for the new station. The project has been designed to achieve BREAAM Excellent and will feature 47 solar panels.
Whitefield is one of several fire stations being rebuilt across Greater Manchester. Robertson took over as main contractor for delivering both Whitefield and Blackley in March, after the previous contractor went into administration.
Kate Green, deputy mayor of Greater Manchester for safer and stronger communities, said: “GMFRS has been making strong progress over recent years and the improvements to our estate will only solidify this and push us further forward.
“Our investment in our estate will create facilities the community can engage with and be proud of. We’re determined that there won’t be any reduction in fire cover across Greater Manchester, and that’s why we’re investing in new stations and additional fire engines. Communities can be confident that there will no effect on the standard and level of service while these vital rebuilds take place.”
Paul Coyle, commercial director, Robertson Construction North West, said: “Robertson has been involved in delivering projects for the blue light sector for many years across the UK. Working with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service we will be providing a modern, high-quality facility which will enhance emergency response capabilities and meet the evolving needs of the community.”
The station is set to be complete by October 2026, with Whitefield’s firefighters working from a temporary station on Bury New Road in the meantime.
The team mark the start of work on-site. Credit: Robertson
