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Work has begun on the redevelopment of Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Longfield Fire and Rescue Training Centre in Stevenage, following a major investment by Hertfordshire County Council.
The redeveloped centre is due to open in October 2027 and will include a new five-storey Operational Live Fire Training (OLFT) facility, designed to give firefighters more realistic training in complex fire and rescue scenarios.
The facility will allow crews to train in controlled conditions involving real flames, heat, smoke and restricted visibility. It will include high-rise, house, flat, stairwell, basement and garage environments, enabling firefighters to practise a range of scenarios and develop their understanding of fire behaviour.
A full-scale replica six-lane motorway will also be built at the site, complete with an overhead steel gantry, central reservation, hard shoulders, signage and lighting.
The motorway will allow crews to practise incidents including multi-vehicle road traffic collisions and casualty extrication, as well as supporting joint training with other emergency services.
The redevelopment also places a focus on firefighter health, safety and wellbeing, with new contamination control measures, dedicated decontamination areas and improved welfare facilities designed to reduce exposure to harmful contaminants.
Councillor Ajanta Hilton, Executive Member for Public Health and Community Safety at Hertfordshire County Council, said the investment would help ensure firefighters have the facilities they need to prepare for challenging incidents.
“Our firefighters respond to some of the most challenging and demanding situations imaginable. It is vital that they have access to facilities that prepare them for those incidents safely and effectively.”
Chief Fire Officer Alex Woodman said the new centre would provide realistic operational environments while supporting firefighter development and safety.
“By providing world class training facilities and realistic operational environments, we are investing in their development, their safety and their ability to deliver the very best service to the people of Hertfordshire.”
The project will also incorporate energy-efficient technologies, sustainable construction practices and measures designed to improve the facility’s long-term environmental performance.
The redevelopment is intended to strengthen operational preparedness across Hertfordshire and provide firefighters with a modern training environment that reflects the demands of contemporary fire and rescue work.
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