Go-Ahead For £14m Fire & Rescue Training Centre

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service has been given the green light to build a new state-of-the-art training centre in Billesdon.

The £14m facility will be built on a former highways depot off Gaulby Road and feature advanced operational zones, a multi-story fire behaviour unit, and a mock motorway section.

The centre will also includes modern welfare, lecture, and garaging facilities, and will see the current Billesdon Fire Station relocated to the updated site.

How the new training facility will look

Harborough District Council’s planning committee approved the plan at a meeting last night.

Chief Fire Officer for Leicestershire Callum Faint said: “We are delighted that the local authority has unanimously approved planning permission for our new Service-wide Training and Development Centre, which marks a major investment for the Service.

“This £14M state-of-the-art facility will ensure all of our Firefighters are as prepared for as many different, dynamic fire and rescue scenarios as possible, for now and the long-term future. This reflects our ongoing commitment to preventing incidents, limiting their impact, and responding in the right way and at the right time when we’re needed.

“With planning permission now granted, we hope to begin clearing this brownfield site early next year, with construction work starting soon after.”

The new facility will go up on a former council depot site