london road fire station manchester fire station manchester england opened site bounded london road street street south street designed baroque style red brick cost build grade listed building addition fire station building housed police station ambulance station bank court gas meter testing station fire station operated eighty years housing families horse drawn replaced vehicles years opening visited royalty recognition brigade wartime efforts war training centre centre equipped record emergency calls fire station expensive maintain council reorganisation decline set building headquarters brigade replaced fire station closed largely unused despite redevelopment proposals placed served compulsory purchase order fire station owner announced intention sell building opening possibility redevelopment nearly years construction considering replacement fire station man sub committee set recommended site newton street designed fire stations belfast referred architect world fire service appointed chief asked opinion proposal parker reported site newton street unsuitable submitted plans fire station site bounded london road street street south street parker proposal bay fire station site double size proposed newton street choice london road influenced proximity development warehouses princess street parker convinced city council choose proposals newton street competition prizes equivalent organised design new fire station competition drew interest country attracting entries winning entry team local architects design based closely parker initial plans fire station described fire magazine finest fire station round world construction started fire station built cost equivalent million building foundations built manchester superstructure built cost faced red brick common choice early 20th century buildings manchester resisted pollution acid rain caused local industry notable manchester buildings era making use include known main building victoria building exterior featured models representing functions building justice fire water building stained glass windows interior decorated bricks similar public buildings era city victoria similarities suggest influence adoption standard design newly created operation building opened september lord mayor manchester addition fire station building housed police station ambulance station street south branch bank corner london road street court gas meter testing station london road court gas meter testing station replaced proposed public library gym fire station contained flats families single facilities included laundry gym room children play areas complex contained stables horses pulled fire workshop electric bells lights alert alarm poles response suspended allow horses quickly electric doors fire station designed bays wide fire station fire arrived years opened building featured foot tower ventilation system designed prevent horses stalls entering living quarters fresh air drawn fire station tower circulated building air reached end circuit stalls extracted building system meant air building replaced minutes second world war basement converted air raid shelter extension built yard provide space control room fire services london road headquarters recognition fire fighters efforts king visited fire station war reorganised restored headquarters brigade fire station serving city centre fire service training centre established time ambulance station closed converted fire brigade workshops control room country equipment record emergency calls interior building refurbished exterior cleaned year fire station opened result condition building celebrated golden jubilee october decline end 1960s maintenance increasingly expensive building design ill suited modern fire plans replace fire station hold pending formation building grade listed year replacement precipitated relocation brigade headquarters new facility reorganisation london road headquarters brigade division station control room responsible divisions covering city manchester reorganisation meant number reduced remained station control room london road closed replaced single control room brigade headquarters year following establishment reorganisation city police station building closed closure left ground floor street tenants bank section firm fire brigade workshops vacated building time construction work began million acre replacement old london road fire station brought fire service left london road new fire station closed building sold redevelopment sale building mainly storage whilst planning applications convert hotel varying degrees success court vacate premises building placed steep decline momentum building fire station owner act february developers proposed building hotels transform music arts venue backed plans refused rule compulsory purchase order owner act building branded plans proposed turning building company headquarters bed hotel fire station museum planning application promised march work carried february building watertight autumn proposal convert building hotel appointed draw plans convert building hotel produced city council lost faith hotels commitment redevelopment city council concerned state fire station limiting regeneration area including proposed government complex railway station site city council set deadline july progress redevelopment proposal july convert fire station hotel storey tower courtyard promised planning application october city council chief executive recommended issuing meeting city council january approved request million cover costs associated fire station acquisition responded new proposal february rendering unnecessary submitted application turn fire station bed star hotel june praised proposed conversion decided continue city council issued august despite plans approved september council continued pursue bids development partner january objection led public inquiry april november confirmed rejected despite guarantee inquiry proceed development plans letter english_heritage said proposed scheme future wanted return rejected tower plan english_heritage city council expressed disappointment city council offered buy building market value february public meeting formed persuade council attempt second group organised online petition fundraising events public meetings online survey discover locals views art exhibition public engagement history published outcome freedom information act request council surveying building issuing urgent works notices november applied extend planning despite objections applications approved technical grounds december council considered applying second time september confirmed intention december meet early received grant locality community assets difficult ownership programme pay public outreach work april met head council urban regeneration team praised campaign announced immediately meeting decided sell building london road fire station market expected offers million restoration expected cost million acquired november
London Road Fire Station, Manchester