Plan for former Alnwick fire station gets the green light

Plans for Alnwick's former fire station have received the green light.
The former Alnwick Fire StationThe former Alnwick Fire Station
The former Alnwick Fire Station

A formal change of use application by current operator North East Equality and Diversity Ltd (NEED) has been approved by Northumberland County Council.

The disability and community transport organisation was seeking permission to change the use of the South Road site from a fire station (Sui Generis) to a mixed B1/B8 & D1 use with ancillary garage for maintaining NEED's vehicles. No physical alterations are proposed as part of the application.

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Coun Gordon Castle, speaking at the North Northumberland Local Area Council meeting, said: "NEED is a social enterprise business which is very much of value to the town. The organising has been using the site for some time and this is a beneficial application."

Alnwick Civic Society objected to permission being granted for B8 storage and distribution which could potentially allow unwelcome development in the future.

However, it was recommeded for approval by planning officers.

Some of the building will be used by NEED and some will accommodate eight small business start-up units. There will also be a meeting room on site.

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NEED first took space in the fire station in 2004 and has used it since for a range of purposes including offices, storage and training.

For many years, NEED occupied the building with the Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service. This shared use continued until June 2015, when a new fire station opened on the Lionheart Enterprise Park.

At present, the charity has 27 minibuses which operate a number of contracts.