Largest ambulance hub in the country to be built in the West Midlands
The hub will improve care across Birmingham and The Black Country
Planners in Sandwell have given multi-million pound plans to build an ambulance hub for West Midlands Ambulance Service - the largest of its kind in the country.
The 76,000 sq ft hub will mean the ambulance service will be able to respond to more emergency incidents across Birmingham and the Black Country when it's built on land off Shidas Road in Oldbury.
The project, which will open in time for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022, will be used as a staging point for the Trust’s preparations for one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
Once fully open, around 350 people will be based there to replace a much smaller facility in West Bromwich. It'll also include a facility for the Hazardous Area Response Team, as well as fleet maintenance and vehicle preparation areas, the Trust’s Education and Training Academy and central stores.
Trust Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, said:
“This is a hugely important development for not only West Midlands Ambulance Service, but also for the people of Birmingham and the Black Country. It is a significant investment that has taken over two years of work to bring together. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Stoford Developments to bring this new facility online in time for the Commonwealth Games, an event that will let the world see all that is good about our country’s second city.”
WMAS Director of Strategic Operations, Craig Cooke added: “At seven acres, this is a significant investment that will bring real benefit to the area. The new Hub will enable us to improve the level of care we provide to the local population. It is also good news for our staff as it will allow us to not only increase numbers, but also provide them with an excellent facility which is purpose built for their needs."