BEWDLEY Fire Station could be developed into homes and shops if a bid to buy the land is accepted.

While no decision has been made regarding the sale of the Dog Lane site, The Shuttle understands that the highest bid came in at £710,000 from The Lombard Group - subject to planning permission being approved for a mixed retail and residential development.

The station is set to close down when Wyre Forest's fire crews are centralised at a new hub in Kidderminster, which is nearing completion.

The land, which also comprised a medical centre that was demolished, has been on the market for several months and is listed as being suitable for a mixed-use development, including community use, residential and retail.

Andrew Pollard, managing director of Place Partnership Ltd, which is leading on property services for the site, said: "As part of a strategy to deliver services from a new Wyre Forest Blue Light Hub, set to open in Spring 2020, it has been engaged in property advisory work.

"Bewdley Fire Station has been on the market for some time, however no decision has been taken regarding commercial terms for any sale of the property and as such our instructions are to continue with the process in accordance with the project brief.

"In the meantime, Bewdley Fire Station continues to remain operational and will be so until the planned move of services to the new Wyre Forest Blue Light Hub."

A spokesman for Hereford and Worcester Fire Service said: “Bewdley Fire Station has been marketed over recent months and a number of offers are being considered.

"It is too early to comment on the details as no final decision has been made and all offers are subject to contract.

“It is expected that the fire appliance currently at Bewdley will relocate to the new Wyre Forest Emergency Services Hub in the New Year.”

The new £7m fire service hub was originally earmarked for completion by the end of this year, but a fire service spokesman said: "The building itself will be completed in the next fortnight but there are some associated works at the front of the building, which can’t be completed until January because we needed the Highway Authority’s permission to undertake works in the road.”

Stephen Brown, spokesman for the Save Bewdley Fire Station campaign, said protesters will be meeting in the near future to discuss their next steps.

The Lombard Group was unavailable for comment.