Fulwell Fire Station site sold to housing developer, fire chiefs confirm

An aerial photograph shared by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service as if confirmed it had sold the former Fulwell Fire Station site.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has said the cash raised through the sale of the land off Station Road will be pumped back into preventing fires and saving lives across its area.

Plans to build apartments on the land, which measures 0.67 hectares, have already been approved by Sunderland City Council after proposals were considered late last year.

Following the agreement to sell the building, which became redundant when fire crews moved into Marley Park Community Fire Station in October 2015, the fire service said: “After a lengthy process we are pleased to confirm that our former community fire station in Fulwell has now been sold to a housing developer.

Fulwell Fire Station, in Station Road, Fulwell, pictured in February 2013 when it was still used as a base for firefighters.

“The capital receipt generated from the sale and the proceeds will be reinvested in our capital programme to help improve our service.”

It has not disclosed the amount the land was sold for.

In November, council’s area development control sub-committee approved a scheme put forward by Durham-based Cancara Ltd.

It initially wanted to build 32 apartments in two blocks, but that was scaled back to 28 apartments in a single four-storey building after concerns from neighbours, who also expressed worries about an increase in traffic using Station Road.

A photo of the fire station from the Echo archives, as a group of youngsters visited the station in August 1980, with the trip organised by the Haskel Energy Systems Social Club.

Private parking is planned to accompany the two-bedroom homes, with the demolition of the old fire station part of its application.

Under planning conditions, the meeting was told the developer must submit a car park management plan to the council before residents will be able to move in.

To reduce the impact of the new flats, the company was told it will be expected to pledge cash under a section 106 legal agreement.

This will include £24,883 towards primary, secondary and special education in the area, £48,000 for offsite affordable housing, a further £19,628 for new or improved play facilities in the Fulwell community, while an extra £15,932 will be provided for monitoring protected nature sites.

The committee was told at that stage the final say on the plan rested with the council’s executive director of city development, with the approval notice issued on December 20.