Wellington Fire Station could be bulldozed and moved to a new site as part of a land swop deal with neighbouring Telford College of Arts and Technology.

Bosses of the award-winning college, which has more than 17,000 students, want to expand on to the Haybridge Road plot currently occupied by the fire station.

In return, firefighters would share a new building on the college campus under a rent-free lease for 50 years.

Shropshire’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer Paul Raymond said today: “This is a really exciting scheme and would be the first of its kind in the country.”

A deal for the co-location has been agreed in principle between fire service and college chiefs.

Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority will be asked to give its backing on Wednesday, subject to finances being sorted out.

It follows an approach by the college (TCAT) to take over the outdated 1960s fire station next door, the base for 40 full-time and 15 retained firefighters and officers.

The college, which recently won a Queen’s Award and is rated “outstanding” by Ofsted, wants more space in which to develop its role as the largest provider of further education in Shropshire.

Chief Fire Officer Alan Taylor says in a report to the authority that a joint-use scheme would enable firefighters to continue protecting the public while providing a source of potential recruits among students.

“Working closely with one of the top performing colleges in the country will bring performance benefits for the whole service,” Mr Taylor says.

“The college will run work experience, Prince’s Trust and Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme on our behalf.”