Toxteth Firefit

Client: Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority.

Originally appointed as concept architects in support of a grant application, Cass was retained as architect, landscape architect, planning consultant and interior designer through to completion.

This flagship scheme has provided first-class sports, education and leisure facilities alongside a new community fire station. Partially funded by a Government ‘MyPlace’ grant and with Prince’s Trust involvement, the project involved very extensive consultation with the local community and youth engagement.

The Scheme included a working fire station, a Sport England standard mixed-use sports hall with seating for 1500 spectators, a state-of-the-art gymnasium, martial arts and dance studios, 3G external sports pitches, a teenage ‘chill-out’ zone, community cafe and activity rooms.
Toxteth Fire Fit also houses Everton Free School.
Inclusive collaboration, especially with the local youth community through a series of design and consultation workshops ensured neighbourhood ‘buy-in’ to the project.
The concept design and planning application were fast-tracked to meet deadlines for the grant application.
Cass co-ordinated and managed ‘value engineering’ process during scheme development.
The scheme achieved BREEAM ‘Very Good’, incorporating included rainwater harvesting, solar panels and stack effect natural ventilation.