A PLANNING application outlining proposals for a new community fire station in St Helens has been granted permission.

Planning officers have given the green light to the plans to create a two-storey station at unused land at Pilkington Glass's Watson Street site.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority approved plans to push ahead with a new station in 2015 following public consultation.

It is intended that Eccleston and Parr Stocks stations will close and merge at the new “super station”, just off Milverny Way, St Helens.

The designs feature a three appliance bay two storey structure, with operational and welfare accommodation, a community meeting room, offices and training facilities, external drill and training spaces.

There would be 37 car parking spaces and a designated mini bus parking space.

A planning officer's report states that the external appearance of the building would be "contemporary in nature and contain large amounts of glazing".

It added there has been "careful consideration" to the design to ensure it meets "operational requirements whilst balancing its impact on character and visual amenity of the area".

Meanwhile, the layout of the building "would be familiar to any firefighter, whilst also allowing visitors to the building to see operational areas to give members of the community a sense of ownership of the building".

The community fire station when completed aims to be staffed 24 hours, with one fire appliance crewed by whole time firefighters and a second by whole time retained firefighters.

The third bay will be used by a combined platform ladder appliance.

The training tower to the back of the development is included in the plans which is required as part of the station's requirements to replicate real scenarios.

Additional training facilities include a covered road traffic collision simulation pad and a below ground training tank.