Vital investment for Fire and Rescue services agreed by council
Cheshire Fire Authority has approved a multi-million-pound investment package to complete the modernisation of fire stations, upgrade frontline firefighting equipment and introduce new technology to help keep communities and firefighters safer.
Last updated 11th Feb 2026
The decision was confirmed today (Wednesday 11 February 2026) as members agreed a £61.7 million budget to run Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service in 2026/27.
Funding for the year will come from a combination of Government grants and council tax. The Authority agreed to increase its precept (its share of council tax) by the equivalent of £5 per year for a Band D property, following a public consultation held in January.
Councillor Stef Nelson, Chair of Cheshire Fire Authority, said:
“In spite of rising cost pressures and no real-terms increase in central government funding, I am pleased we have agreed a balanced budget that not only maintains our excellent fire and rescue provision but also ensures we can continue to make vital investments in our services.
“To balance the budget, we will make around £1.1 million in savings, primarily by bringing down utility costs, continuing to reduce staff absence and overtime, and introducing a new structure in our Protection Department. A further £448,000 from reserves will fund essential one-off costs.”
He added:
“We are grateful to everyone who responded to our public consultation. The £5 annual increase in council tax will support our work towards our vision of ‘a Cheshire with no deaths, injuries or damage from fire and other emergencies’.”
Alongside approving the revenue budget for the next 12 months, members also signed off a major multi-year capital investment programme starting in April. The programme will be funded from the Authority’s reserves and around £2 million of borrowing — significantly less than originally planned due to identified savings and efficiencies.
Key investments include:
£10.5 million redevelopment of Ellesmere Port Fire Station (due for completion by summer 2027) and Warrington Fire Station (by autumn 2027). The work will involve partial demolition and extensive remodelling to provide:
- modern welfare facilities for staff
- dedicated ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’ areas to reduce harmful contaminants
- improved gyms to support firefighter health and fitness
- enhanced community rooms
Refurbishment of fire stations at Malpas, Nantwich, Poynton and Stockton Heath, meaning all 28 of Cheshire’s fire stations will have been newly built or fully modernised within the last decade.
£1.6 million investment in new breathing apparatus in 2027/28, providing lightweight, state-of-the-art equipment with digital technology to help incident commanders monitor firefighters’ location and vital signs during high-risk incidents.
A new digital mobilising system at Northwest Fire Control in Warrington, which Cheshire operates jointly with Cumbria, Greater Manchester and Lancashire fire and rescue services.
Continued improvements to on-site firefighter accommodation, supporting crews who live at stations to respond to emergencies outside normal working hours.
Upgrades at the Service’s headquarters in Winsford, including a new Occupational Health Unit, additional office space, a new on-site stores facility and modernised conference, training and meeting spaces. The plans also incorporate revisions made possible by the purchase of the former Winsford Police Station building adjacent to headquarters.
The investment programme is designed to strengthen frontline response capabilities while ensuring firefighters have modern, safe and fit-for-purpose facilities across Cheshire.