St Neots Fire Station reopens as county’s first carbon-neutral station

St Neots Fire Station has officially reopened following a £2 million refurbishment – a project that makes it the most sustainable fire station in Cambridgeshire and the first in the county to be fully carbon-neutral.

The extensive work has transformed the station, creating new offices and welfare facilities, improved meeting rooms, and a purpose-built gym for firefighters. At the heart of the project is sustainability, with solar panels, heat pumps and electric vehicle charging bays helping to reduce the station’s carbon footprint.

Councillor Chris Morris, Chair of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority, said:

“It’s important that we ensure our firefighters have the best possible facilities, and the improvements made here certainly reflect that. Just as importantly, this project shows how we can future-proof our fire stations, reducing the impact we have on the environment and making our service more sustainable.”

The station remained operational throughout the renovation, with firefighters able to continue responding to emergencies in and around St Neots. Assistant Chief Fire Officer Stuart Smith said:

“We are really excited by this renovation and the facilities it brings to our firefighters, improving the provision for the future for St Neots and the wider county. It helps us ensure we are keeping up with the growth and development we continue to see across Cambridgeshire in a sustainable way.”

Around £700,000 of the funding came from Huntingdonshire District Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy, which supports community projects.

The crews themselves are a mix of full-time and on-call firefighters – local men and women who balance their fire service duties with jobs, family life and other commitments, always ready to respond when their pagers sound.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Smith added:

“This investment is about making sure our teams have the right support in place, both for now and in the future. The fact the station could remain open and continue protecting the community throughout the works shows the strength of the partnership behind this project.”

The upgrade is being described as a landmark moment for both the town and the county fire service – giving local crews modern, fit-for-purpose facilities while setting new standards for sustainability.