The fire station in Hoogeveen has to be overhauled. According to research, the building no longer meets today’s requirements. The municipality is faced with a difficult task, because what will happen to the 50-year-old building. New construction or renovation?
The arrival of a new barracks has been on the wish list of the municipality for years. Partly due to the poor financial situation of Hoogeveen, the (renovated) building has not yet been completed. In recent months, we have explored what is possible.
The research focuses on a number of scenarios. The first thing to consider was the renovation of the barracks at the current location along Industrieweg. However, according to Antea Group, the party that conducted the research for the municipality, this is not a wise choice. The building is ‘finished’, they say, large parts must be demolished and refurbished to meet all the requirements of a future-proof building.
It was also considered to create a temporary barracks on the existing site. The researchers advise against this, because of the costs. The building would then be there for about two years, but would cost two million euros.
New construction at the current location also does not seem an option for the time being, because it does not fall within the financial possibilities of the municipality. The surface would also not be large enough and future-proof. According to the researchers, the only logical option is to build a new barracks in a different location. However, several follow-up studies are needed to see whether this is feasible.
Should the barracks move, space will be created on the current plot. According to the municipality, it would be a logical next step to use the land for housing. “This ties in with the underlying development visions for the City Center. A beautiful entrance to the city center where part of the Hoogeveen housing project can be realized”, can be read in a letter from the Municipal Executive.
The problem is that the soil of the barracks location is contaminated. The extent and severity is not exactly known. That is why the municipality wants to focus on environmental soil research. This has now been initiated by the RUD and will cost 20,000 euros. In addition, 50,000 euros is needed to further elaborate the next steps in a recommendation.
When it is decided to opt for new construction, a suitable location must be found. Hoogeveen wants to map this out in the near future, together with all associated expenses. The estimated costs for a barracks in a different location are more than 7.5 million euros.
The current barracks currently have no public function. The Drenthe Safety Region (VRD), which is involved in the plans, wants the barracks to be accessible to the residents of the municipality of Hoogeveen. A collaboration with, for example, the GGD at the locations in Assen and Emmen would make this possible.
If that wish is met, the total cost will increase. The amount will then be approximately 11.5 million euros. The researchers also advise to reserve an extra amount of seven tons to absorb risks, such as higher construction costs. The plans are included in the 2024-2027 budget.