Southwark Fire Station and training centre could host free school

Southwark Fire Station is due to close in January next year and the London Fire Brigade's Southwark training centre will close in March 2015.

A paper discussed by the London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority's resources committee this week reveals that City Hall officials have expressed an interest in making part of the site available for use by a 'free school'.

'Free schools' – state-funded schools which are set up by parents and community groups – are a flagship policy of the coalition Government.

The committee report also includes options for the future of the London Fire Brigade Museum, including possible relocation to one of the other fire stations due to close next year, such as Clerkenwell.

LFEPA hopes to raise £50 million from the sale of the 10 fire stations earmarked for closure. The authority will decide next year how to spend the proceeds of the sell-offs.