A new, state-of-the-art Training and Development Centre for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service has been granted planning permission by Harborough District Council, with unanimous support from the local Planning Committee.

The Training and Development Centre, which will be built on a former Leicestershire County Council Highways depot on the outskirts of Billesdon, will train Firefighters across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland for the challenges faced today, and tomorrow's emergencies, ensuring communities are kept safe.

This £14M, multi-phase project follows refurbishment works at Market Bosworth, Eastern, Western and Southern Fire Stations, and represents an important investment for the local Fire Service after years of careful planning.

The new centre will feature the latest equipment and advanced operational zones, developed in line with recommendations from the Grenfell Tower public enquiry, including a multi-story fire behaviour unit and a dedicated section for a mock motorway.

This will give Firefighters practical, scenario-based training that prepares them for a range of fire and rescue situations. The training centre will also host modern welfare, lecture, and garaging facilities to support the needs of our crews, and will allow the current Billesdon Fire Station, built in 1962, to also move to the updated site.

Local residents attended an event at Billesdon Fire Station a year ago, where Fire Service employees explained further details about the planned facility and answered their questions about what it will mean for the village.

Chief Fire Officer for Leicestershire Callum Faint said: "We are delighted that the local authority has unanimously approved planning permission for our new Service-wide Training and Development Centre, which marks a major investment for the Service.

"This £14M state-of-the-art facility will ensure all of our Firefighters are as prepared for as many different, dynamic fire and rescue scenarios as possible, for now and the long-term future. This reflects our ongoing commitment to preventing incidents, limiting their impact, and responding in the right way and at the right time when we're needed.

"With planning permission now granted, we hope to begin clearing this brownfield site early next year, with construction work starting soon after."

Councillor Craig Smith, Chair of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Combined Fire Authority (CFA), said: "It is vital that our Firefighters can prepare for the emergencies they face today, and into the future, this investment in first class training facilities will enable our Fire and Rescue Service to keep our communities safe for decades to come.

"On behalf of the CFA, I welcome the approval of these plans and look forward to seeing the project come to fruition."

Councillor Dan Harrison, Leader of Leicestershire County Council, said: "This is really good news and we're delighted that Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service has secured permission to build this top-class training facility.

"The brownfield site it will be built on was surplus to our requirements and it's great to see the land being put to good use. Not only will it benefit residents across Leicestershire but the £1.7m sale means we can put these funds towards providing vital services."