The proposals involve replacing the existing four buildings with two new buildings including the new fire station itself and a training facility with appliance garage, reducing the square footage by 450 square metres.

The ambulance station on the site at Preston North Road would move to new premises in North Shields by October this year.

Trevor Torpy, environmental health manager at North Tyneside Council, raised concerns about noise and smoke.

"It's a community fire station and smoke is anticipated during training," he said. "I ask that there is a condition for the fire service not to use smoke in training."

And Coun Linda Arkley added: "It's actually on a main road so to have any smoke could cause serious problems."

But Coun Charles Hobkirk said: "You can't put out a fire without having some smoke. This is a training facility. I can't see how you can train a fireman without some fire and smoke."

A representative from the fire service said smoke was not used; instead he believed they used some form of chemical that disperses when it leaves the building, but said he could not confirm any details as he was new to the service.

There were no objections to the redevelopment received from residents however there were some concerns over the loss of an 8m grassed area between the station and the Church of St Hilda.

The grassed area has been tended by church members for the past 15 years and one concerned resident said the loss of the space would hamper evacuation of the church in case of an emergency.

But planning officer Julie Lawson said that as the fire service is the sole owner of this land it is their decision what to do with it and that one metre of it would still be kept between the church and the new station.

Coun Ian Macauley told the planning meeting: "I think we should support this application.

"It's our responsibility to look after the fire service."

The planning committee voted unanimously in favour of the application and outline planning permission was granted.