Matlock Fire Station

Matlock Fire Station is part of a wider modernisation programme for Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service. The existing station was outdated and no longer fit for purpose, requiring a full replacement capable of housing modern appliances, delivering specialist operational training and serving the local community for the long term. DYSE was appointed as structural and civil engineer, working alongside architect James Totty Partnership to deliver a technically demanding facility on a constrained town-centre site. 

Located in Matlock, Derbyshire, the new station sits at the heart of the community. The site initially required careful re-profiling to accommodate the new building with sustainable drainage integrated to manage surface water responsibly. Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service needed the new station to not only be a training facility but a visible hub that values community safety. 

DYSE’s design for this project included a two-storey steel-braced frame with composite floors, meeting the spatial and operational requirements for a modern fire station. A cantilevered appliance bay was engineered to accommodate four vehicles, including specialist units, without the need for intermediate columns. The smokehouse training facility was designed to replicate residential and commercial fire scenarios, with a subterranean structure added to support a wider range of training needs. Sustainable drainage and careful site re-profiling were integrated throughout to manage surface water, with the overall structural and civil design aligned to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating.

We worked closely with architect James Totty Partnership, contract administrator Make Consulting and contractor Davlyn Construction throughout design and construction. Direct engagement with Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service’s operational and asset management teams ensured the design reflected real-world requirements from the outset. Construction was completed on programme, with the station officially opened in October 2024. 

Matlock Fire Station gives Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service a facility built around how they actually work; with the appliance capacity, training infrastructure and sustainability credentials to serve the community for decades to come. The project demonstrates DYSE’s ability to deliver complex, multi-facility civic buildings on constrained sites, from early design through to completion.