North Wales Fire and Rescue Service has launched a public consultation on ambitious plans to develop a new state-of-the-art training and resilience centre at St Asaph Business Park, designed to transform how firefighters are trained and prepared for emergencies across the region.
The proposed facility, named Hwb Awen, would become the central training hub for the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, bringing together learning, development and operational preparation currently delivered across multiple sites in North Wales.
The consultation invites residents, businesses and stakeholders to have their say on the plans, with feedback open until midnight on 31 August.
Hwb Awen is intended to provide a modern, purpose-built environment for training, replacing a fragmented network of ageing facilities that the Service says are increasingly difficult to maintain and adapt to modern operational requirements.
According to the Service, current training provision is spread across several locations, leading to inefficiencies, increased travel time and inconsistency in delivery. Some buildings are also approaching the end of their operational life and fall short of contemporary standards for ventilation, welfare provision and simulation-based training.
The new centre would address these challenges by consolidating activity into a single site and introducing purpose-built facilities including realistic operational training environments, modern classrooms, command and leadership spaces, and improved welfare and recovery areas for staff.
The design also reflects wider pressures facing fire and rescue services, including the need to meet evolving safety expectations, respond to increasingly complex incidents such as extreme weather and flooding, and align with long-term environmental targets, including the Welsh public sector’s move towards net zero.
The name Hwb Awen reflects both function and identity. “Hwb” refers to a central hub of activity and connection, while “Awen” draws on Welsh cultural tradition, symbolising inspiration, creativity and transformation. Together, the name represents a facility intended to develop skills, confidence and resilience across the workforce.
The site at St Asaph has already been secured as part of the Service’s wider estates strategy. The organisation plans to self-fund early development work, including feasibility studies and design, before seeking Welsh Government capital funding to support construction and delivery. Subject to planning approval and funding, the centre could be operational by 2029.
The approach will follow established public sector procurement frameworks, with an emphasis on transparency, value for money and social value, alongside professional oversight and governance.
Fire service leaders say the development represents a “once-in-a-generation” investment in training infrastructure, aimed at ensuring firefighters are equipped for both current demands and future risks.
The consultation marks an early stage in shaping the final design and scope of the project, with the Service encouraging participation from across North Wales as it refines its long-term plans for training and emergency preparedness.