FIRE Service plans for the first phase of a new £45 million training facility in Co Tyrone have received planning approval.
The learning and development centre at Desertcreat, near Cookstown, will feature a six-storey tactical fire-fighting building where crews can be trained in live emergency scenarios.
It also includes a single-storey building for a classroom and a new access route from the Dungannon Road.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) hopes construction of this £4.2m first phase will begin within months and take about a year to complete.
A joint training college for the police, fire and prison services had initially been planned for the Desertcreat site.
But the project, first announced back in 2004, was abandoned after years of setbacks and spiralling costs.
Around £45m is due to be spent on the overall NIFRS project at Desertcreat, while police and prison services are investing in training facilities elsewhere.
Planning approval was granted by Mid Ulster District Council.
