An artist's impression of the new HQ. Picture: Shropshire fire & Rescue Service

Shropshire’s “dilapidated” fire headquarters are set for a £4 million revamp.

Plans to refurbish the station in St Michael’s Street in a “watered down” scheme, which is expected to save the taxpayer £6 million, have now taken a step forward.

Architects’ drawings along with a planning application have been submitted to Shropshire Council for the development which was originally estimated to cost more than £10 million.

The plan had been to move to a totally new HQ in Shrewsbury.

But members of Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority insisted instead on the cost-saving option of a total refurbishment of the existing “run-down” station.

At a reduced cost of £4 million, it represented “good value for money” for the people of Shropshire, said Fire Authority chairman Stuart West.

Bosses say the development will boost the local economy and provide jobs in the building industry while improving the environment along one of the main access routes into Shrewsbury.

Chief Fire Officer Paul Raymond said the fire authority had chosen the “watered-down” solution to ensure taxpayers got the best possible deal and firefighters had accommodation suitable for the 21st century.

He said: “It is the most cost-effective and operationally efficient solution for the long term.”

A total of £2.5 million is already available through Government grants and by cost savings made by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service over the past three years to pay towards the development.

“The burden on the taxpayer in future years has therefore been kept to a minimum,” said Mr West.

Fire officers will move into rented offices while the work is carried out with the ground floor of the current HQ being altered slightly to accommodate station personnel during the works.

The station will then be refurbished and an extension built on one side to solve the overcrowding problem.

Workshops will be refurbished to meet modern safety standards with staff temporarily relocating to Minsterley or Tweedale.

Shrewsbury fire station was identified as “old and dilapidated” and in need of urgent refurbishment in 2006.

By Russell Roberts