The long-serving site closed its doors for the final time last Spring
Aintree Fire Station on Longmoor Lane(Image: Eddisons / Rightmove)
Merseyside’s oldest fire station could be converted into flats and offices under new plans submitted to Liverpool Council. As Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) unveiled its new £40m super station on Long Lane, it meant the end for its Aintree site just down the road on Longmoor Lane.
Now, a year shy of what would have been its 100th birthday, new plans for the location have been put to the city council, converting it from a working fire station into new housing. Past and present firefighters and their families bid a fond farewell to the site when it closed its doors for the final time last May.
Having completed the purchase of the site last year, Best Care Liverpool has now set out how it intends to retain the history of Aintree station moving forward. Around 170 parties expressed an interest in taking on the station when its closure was first announced.
Documents released ahead of a fire authority policy and resources committee confirmed an offer of £650,000 was made for the site by Best Care Liverpool. Committee members signed off the deal in December 2023.
Eddisons estate agents were appointed to market and sell the fire station, with the listing published in September of that year. Around 170 parties were said to have expressed interest, with a series of open days held for firms to view the station.
Ex-fire fighters at a reunion on the closing day of Aintree Community Fire Station(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A total of 44 parties took part, with formal offers registered in October 2023, leading to 11 bids. The highest offer was unconditional and made by Best Care Liverpool Ltd
According to its website, the firm is a “family owned company, originally established in September 2018 by qualified nurses.” With experience in domiciliary and home care, it provides services in Knowsley, Liverpool and St Helens.
Authority officials said Best Care provided proof of funding via a mixture of cash in bank, remortgaging of an existing unencumbered property and private equity. A planning and design statement said the company’s proposal is to change the use of the building and convert the ground floor to offices and the first floor to four self-contained flats.
The offices would be run by Best Care. According to the design and access statement, the site will retain the external facade “so the public would always recognise the building as a former fire station.” The existing doors that were used for fire engines will be repurposed.
The properties will be a mix of one and two-bedroom flats with separate bathroom and living areas. A decision is expected to be made on the plans in the coming weeks.