Fresh concerns over possible fire station closures in Oxford as development plans emerge
Proposed science park includes a potential site for a new fire station
Plans for a new innovation district in north Oxford have sparked fresh concerns about potential fire station closures in the city.
Last year, Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) put forward proposals to cut fire services, including the closure of on-call stations at Rewley Road and Kidlington.
These plans attracted significant backlash, protests, and the possibility of strike action by firefighters.
The proposals were paused in April 2026, partly due to uncertainties around negotiations for a new fire station in north Oxford.
Now, a £900 million science park development planned for Frieze Farm, near Peartree Roundabout, has designated a “900sqm gross external area” for a possible fire station.
The application submitted to Cherwell District Council highlights the location's connectivity to transport links.
The plan notes, however, that there are "currently" no concrete proposals for the facility, leaving flexibility for future developments.
County Labour leader Liz Brighouse OBE said: "Everybody breathed a sigh of relief and thought it had gone away, but of course it hadn’t."
She highlighted the importance of the Rewley Road station, especially for Oxford's centre with its colleges and labs containing potentially hazardous materials.
“To take away the fire station that actually serves that area, to me, is just madness,” Ms Brighouse said.
County council Green leader and Cherwell councillor Ian Middleton also described the situation as "concerning."
He said that closure intentions remain an aspiration for OCC, as confirmed by the Chief Fire Officer in a recent meeting.
Mr Middleton raised issues like a "sub-optimal" configuration for emergency traffic and potential congestion challenges, especially on event days if new stadium plans proceed.
Acting brigade secretary Jonathan Shuker of the Oxfordshire Fire Brigades Union (FBU) noted that assurances regarding the site’s status as a proposal had limited the union's concerns so far.
"The FBU are taking a keen interest in whether this is developed any further," he said, indicating further consultations with union members might arise.
Conservative county and West Oxfordshire councillor Thomas Ashby labelled the previous closure proposal "ludicrous" and recognised that increased development could necessitate more emergency services.
An Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “The work undertaken during the ‘Improving our Fire and Rescue Service’ consultation demonstrated some benefits to having a fire station positioned towards the north of Oxford."
While no decisions have been made regarding the closures or the new station, they continue to explore opportunities, considering the Frieze Farm development as one of several options.
“Nothing has been decided about whether a north Oxford fire station would ever go ahead, nor has any decision been made on the future of Rewley Road fire station,” the spokesperson added.