NICSConstruction of the new NIFRS Logistics Support Centre on Boucher Crescent, Belfast starts this month following the appointment of Lowry Building & Civil Engineering as the principal contractor on the £7.8million project.

Michael Graham, Assistant Chief Fire & Rescue Officer, Director of Operational Support said – “We are delighted that work will start on site to construct our new Logistics Support Centre. It will bring our key operational support staff and services into one building and deliver real business improvement across the organisation. 

“The Logistics Support Centre will be the hub for the maintenance, servicing and repair of our fire appliances and operational equipment. Our current workshops at Central Fire Station in Belfast, NIFRS HQ in Lisburn and the equipment workshop in our Learning & Development Centre will all relocate. Our stores will all come under one roof which will promote greater control and allow for the effective provision of supplies to all parts of the organisation. In addition, our technical communication workshops and standby Regional Control Centre will also be based in the new Logistics Support Centre. There will be approximately 40 NIFRS staff working from our new bespoke facility and having our support services working side by side will greatly enhance efficiency.  

“In conjunction with the main contractor and architect we are working closely with the Department of Health who approved funding for this key capital project and we look forward to its completion and all of the benefits it will bring to NIFRS.”

Building work commences in March 2017 with the Logistics Support Centre expected to open and be fully operational by Spring 2018.  The Logistics Support Centre has been designed by HLM, who were also responsible for the award winning design of Omagh Community Fire Station & District Headquarters which opened in 2014. 

Jemma Lowry, Lowry Building & Civil Engineering said – “We are delighted to be working with NIFRS and HLM again on what is our second major project for NIFRS.  Having delivered on Omagh Community Fire Station we are familiar with the requirements and process of working with NIFRS.  This project allows us to take advantage of the NI government ‘Buy Social Scheme’ which supports us in appointing new staff and offering apprenticeships and supports us in our commitment to sourcing local materials.”

Steven Lennon, Associate Architect at HLM said – “We are pleased to be moving forward with this key capital project for NIFRS which is designed to optimise efficiency by bringing together NIFRS operational support services from multiple sites to a new focal Logistics Support Centre. We are proud to have designed a facility to help improve the efficiency of critical operational support functions for NIFRS.”