THE new combined emergency services station - described as the first of its kind in the country - is set to open in May, it has been revealed.

Construction work on the emergency hub, replacing Bromsgrove Police Station, in The Crescent, and the Windsor Street-based Fire Station, began in October 2012.

The multi-million pound station is the first being delivered under the Worcestershire Capital Asset Pathfinder initiative, which police say will lead to better local services and increased value for money through a shared facility between public services.

Planning permission was granted to the scheme in 2011, giving the green light to transform the previously derelict site in Slideslow Drive, near the Artrix Theatre, that was once owned by New College.

The construction work on the station has been carried out by contractors Thomas Vale, and the exterior is expected to be completed by the middle of February.

Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid recently tweeted that he had met with chief fire officer Mark Yates, who revealed the aim is for the station to open in May.

Jim Stobie, from West Mercia Police, has said the scheme nationally will be the first of its kind, and its success could lead to it being repeated across the country.

It has also been estimated that the cost of the building has been reduced by 20 per cent, as a result of sharing the facilities.

The scheme is part of Bromsgrove's wider regeneration project, with the former Parkside building earmarked to become a multi-purpose community facility including a customer service centre, registry office, and a library.