16 Feb 2010

London's first new additional fire station for over a decade was officially opened by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, on Thursday 11th February.

Lakehouse completed the new build fire station in Harold Hill ahead of programme and under budget. Paul King and Dean Ball, both Lakehouse directors, were delighted to join the Mayor and various dignitories to celebrate the momentous occasion.

The new station has state-of-the-art indoor training facilities and comes fitted with recliner chairs, instead of beds, for firefighters to rest in during the night shift. The station also has technology to recycle rainwater, solar panels, energy saving boilers and motion sensor lighting.

The Mayor was accompanied on a tour of the facilities by Councillor Brian Coleman AM FRSA, Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, and London Fire Commissioner, Ron Dobson.

On the station, the Mayor said: "To be opening the first fire station built in London in a decade is remarkable enough but throw in the fact that it is the greenest station in the capital and it is truly astonishing. Harold Hill is a superb example of how you can combine both value for money and green ambitions. Not only was it cheaper to build than a traditional station but it will continue to save the London Fire Brigade money for years to come and cause less pollution - a real triumph for everyone in London."

Harold Hill Fire Station has already won a prestigious award for environmental sustainability at the Havering Business Awards.