Focus Consultants has been instrumental in a scheme to extend and refurbish one of the busiest on-call fire stations in Cambridgeshire.
The company was the designer and building surveyor, as well as contract administrator and CDM advisor, on the project for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service at Chatteris. It involved transforming one of the service’s older stations into a building suitable for a high-performing modern community fire station.
Senior building surveyor at Focus Consultants, Darren Booker, said: “Focus Consultants has undertaken work for many blue light and public sector organisations, but this was our first project for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service and we are very pleased to have played a part in providing updated and extended facilities to the Chatteris Fire Station, which is also used by East of England Ambulance Service.”
Focus, which is based in Nottingham, and also has offices in London, Leicester, Newark and Boston, provides a range of building services to the construction and development sector. It won the contract via the ESPO Framework 2664.
It was the latest in a significant number of contracts secured by Focus for public sector organisations, including police forces and NHS trusts.
The Chatteris scheme involved the design of a new extension and the total refurbishment of the existing fire station building in Station Street. The fire station houses one fire engine and is crewed by on-call firefighters.
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, Property Manager Maurice Moore commented:
“Over the last few years we’ve been investing in our fire stations to ensure that they meet the demands of the Service and improve the environment for our staff.
“The investment allows for greater collaboration with our blue light colleagues from the Police and Ambulance Service, and supports our new emergency delivery model.
“There were a number of challenges with the project due to the condition of the old station, but having James Garner from Focus Consultants as our surveyor, we were able to overcome the obstacles in a timely and professional manner. From the start of the work there were regular documented project meetings and most importantly personal contact to deal with everyday matters which was really beneficial.”
The building work was undertaken by the Lindum Group.
