What the new £3 million fire station in Cradley Heath is expected to look like.

AN artist’s impressions of the new £3 million fire station to serve Halesowen and Cradley Heath have been revealed.

The state-of-the-art building will replace the iconic Municipal Buildings at the junction of Barrs Road and Halesowen Road, Cradley Heath, which is no longer needed as offices for Sandwell Council .

Designs for the new building went on display at the neighbouring Haden Hill Leisure Centre last week and a planning application is expected to be submitted to the council next Monday.

The single appliance, multi-bay community station will feature a glass fronted reception area and as well as facilities for the firefighters will have rooms for community use and the Young Firefighters’ Association.

Part of the site will also provide extra car parking spaces for the leisure centre.

Halesowen Fire station in Hagley Road closed earlier this year and the town is currently being served by Cradley Heath’s existing station in Mace Street, Old Hill . Both sites will be sold off.

The decision by the West Midlands Fire Authority to close Halesowen’s station and cut the number of fire engines covering the two towns from two to one sparked a storm of protest which almost resulted in a legal challenge.

It is hoped the building of the new station will start next March.