EXTRA cash is set to be spent on Chester’s new fire station to make it a zero-carbon building.

Cheshire Fire Authority will spend an additional £270,000 to improve the building fabric at the £5.5 million station, meaning it leaks less heat, while it will also add solar panels to the roof.

It is expected the work will come at a much lower cost than it would be to retro-fit the new station following its construction.

Iain Gammack, capital projects manager, told the authority’s estates and property committee on Friday, March 13: “We can get to a stage with Chester where we are looking at a zero-carbon fire station in respect of regulated energy.

“What that means is that the building itself will function – it will heat, light, ventilate and provide hot water – without emitting any carbon into the atmosphere.

“We will be taking a huge step towards reducing the carbon consumption of the fire service on that site.”

Energy produced by the solar panels will be put into the electricity grid during the day, with the station taking power back from the grid at night.

The fire authority does not expect to make immediate cost savings from the project, although it is expected to benefit in the years to come, particularly if a carbon tax is introduced by Government.

Cllr Stef Nelson, Labour member from Halton, said: “At the end of the day, I think it is beneficial to the fire authority, because if we had to do something later there would be an extra cost and we would have to replace the old stuff.”

Improved windows will also be installed with wider ventilation to prevent overheating caused by the insulation.

Mr Gammack added: “We’ve done the exercise, the ventilation is absolutely fine and it passes the guidelines.”

The authority will use its ‘urgency process’ to secure the cash next week in consultation with chairman Cllr Bob Rudd, rather than wait until the next full authority meeting on April 22.