It might seem like red and blue would be more appropriate for Norfolk's new £3m fire station but the plan is to make it as green as possible.Carrow Fire Station, as the new building will be known, will replace Norwich's ageing station in Bethel Street.

It might seem like red and blue would be more appropriate for Norfolk's new £3m fire station but the plan is to make it as green as possible.

Carrow Fire Station, as the new building will be known, will replace Norwich's ageing station in Bethel Street.

It will be built on a site to the south-east of the city, near to the county hall roundabout and, while it is still early days in terms of the planning process, thoughts are turning to possible designs for the new building.

All parties are agreed it should be as environmentally friendly as possible.

Richard Elliott, Norfolk's chief fire officer, said: “We have chosen the name as the new site is very close to the Carrow Works and we believe it is suitable and appropriate.

“The project is still in the very early stages but we felt it was right to decide on a name and we can now get on with the job of delivering a facility of which people can be proud.

“As well as providing us with a practical operational fire station in sympathy with the surroundings, one of the briefs to the project managers will be about making the new facility as green as possible, something which is very high on our agenda.”

Fire chiefs ruled out a refurbishment of the Bethel Street HQ because of cost and previously considered a move to the new bus station and a former car showroom on Ber Street before choosing Trowse.

Union leaders urged a rethink amid fears that a move out of the city centre could increase the risk to heritage sites including the cathedral because crews would no longer meet a five-minute response time.

And there are concerns in Trowse about the increased levels of traffic a station could bring.

But fire officials state the new state-of-the-art station would help provide cover for the whole of Norwich.

The new fire station follows the opening of the £2m North Earlham Fire Station last year.

NPS Property Consultants, the county council's property services provider, is to design and project manage the new fire station build.

Project manager Andy Rayfield said: “We are delighted to work with Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service again on this exciting project.

“We know green issues are a key driver for the county council and will look to deliver.”