Construction of the new £13.6 million Hereford Fire Station has reached a significant milestone with the completion of the full steel frame.

To mark the achievement, a steel-signing ceremony brought together representatives from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS), the Fire Authority and main contractor Speller Metcalfe.

Chief Fire Officer Jon Pryce KFSM, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Ade Elliott and Councillor Roger Phillips OBE, Chair of the Fire Authority, joined Speller Metcalfe's Managing Director, Adrian Speller, and Regional Director, Mark Hudgeon, to sign one of the final beams.

The event underlined the strong partnership driving the scheme and signals the move into the next phase of construction.

It follows months of enabling works, including demolition of the former station, installation of a temporary facility to maintain emergency cover, and extensive piling and groundworks.

With the steel frame erected and most floors now in place, the programme is progressing well and remains on schedule for completion in early 2027. Attention will now turn to forming the building envelope as the structure takes shape externally.

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Chief Fire Officer Jon Pryce KFSM, said: "We are delighted that our latest capital build project has reached this important stage, this will be an excellent facility of which we can all be proud. The new fire station meets the needs of the modern fire and rescue service and will help us deliver our core strategies of Response, Protection and Prevention to our communities. It's a building with vastly improved facilities which will be more energy efficient and sustainable long into the future."

Mark Hudgeon, regional director at Speller Metcalfe, added: "This milestone represents a key moment in the delivery of the new Hereford Fire Station, and it reflects the exceptional professionalism and partnership shown across the entire team. We’re proud to see the structure taking shape and are committed to maintaining this momentum as we move into the next phases of the build."

Beyond the site itself, the project team is providing wider community benefits, including student work placements with regional colleges and engagement with local schools, such as a recent health and safety poster competition at Holmer Primary School.

Pupils from all year groups took part, with four winners chosen after a close-run judging process; their designs, alongside runners-up entries from each year group, are now displayed on the site hoardings. Further activities are planned to continue delivering social value throughout the build.

The project also achieved a top score of 45/45 in its first Considerate Constructors Scheme assessment in January, with the assessor commending communication, leadership, environmental responsibility and the high standard of site presentation.

Once complete, the four-storey station will provide a modern, efficient and future-ready base for HWFRS, featuring four appliance bays, high-quality operational and training areas, outdoor spaces, a drill tower, the firefighter’s pole and sustainability measures to support long-term environmental performance.

The scheme has been procured via the Pagabo framework and designed by Bond Bryan Architects.