The Southcoates Lane building has lain empty since 2018 but is set for a modern future
The former East Hull fire station which has been sold.(Image: Gary Davies Photography)
New life is set to be breathed into a former Hull fire station which has lain empty for a number of years, after it was snapped up by new owners.
The former East Hull Fire Station in Southcoates Lane closed its doors in June 2018 and the crew was relocated to a new fire station as part of The Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre. As we reported, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service held a public consultation which showed how the fire station could be extended to include 25 new apartments and, soon after, the building was put up for sale by the fire authority.
However, the sale process came to an abrupt halt when the Covid pandemic struck. It only moved forward in 2025 when Sanderson Weatherall issued marketing materials highlighting its potential to be transformed for new uses, such as traditional apartments or retirement living.
The property company confirmed it struck a £500,000 deal with a buyer last year, after going through a ‘best bids’ process. Now it has emerged that the new owners – Smartway Healthcare Group – are in discussions with Hull City Council planners amid moves to transform the historic building and bring it back into use in a residential development.
The original part of the building is believed to date back to 1932 and while it is not a Listed Building it is on the Hull City Council “Local Buildings List” due to its architecture and historic interest. To the side there is a single-storey modern workshop, and the owners of the building have applied to have this building demolished as part of their future plans for the site.
Looking ahead, Adka Independence Ltd, which forms part of the Smart Healthcare Group, is driving forward plans to transform the historic building into modern apartments. A spokesman told how drawings are being prepared by their architectural consultants, ADP, which forms part of Griffin Toomes Consulting Engineers, based in Hull.
He said: “We purchased the building in the past year and have since been developing a residential redevelopment scheme for the site. The current proposals seek to provide 27 apartments, comprising a mix of 12 one-bedroom units and 15 two-bedroom units.
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“The scheme proposes the retention and conversion of the main former fire station building, which is locally listed, together with the erection of two new wings to support the overall accommodation provision. A large number of the proposed apartments are being designed as M4(2) compliant accessible units, as identified within the scheduled accommodation data, providing a high level of accessible and adaptable residential accommodation within the scheme.
“The proposals also include 34 car parking spaces, which is currently above the level identified as being required through prior consultation as part of the pre-application process. The parking strategy also includes grasscrete parking areas, together with a large provision for required EV charging infrastructure and future EV charging capacity.”
The company’s proposal is currently with Hull City Council as part of a pre-application process with case officers and the company plans to launch a public consultation with local residents, in the near future, after receiving feedback from city planners. A full planning application is set to be put in motion following consultation with residents.
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