A £907,000 revamp to a Somerset police station can begin later in the year after plans were approved by Somerset Council.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary put forward plans in late-February to refurbish Chard police station, located on the A358 Millfield near the town centre.

The proposals are intended to bring the building up to a higher standard for both members of the public and the officers currently based in that location – with breastfeeding facilities and a new faith room being incorporated

Somerset Council has now given the plans the green light, despite objections from Chard Town Council – meaning the construction work can get under way in the coming months.

The station is based on one of Chard’s main roads, not far from the Millfield industrial estate and the town’s leisure centre.

Under the proposals, the station will be fitted with solar panels and air source heat pumps to reduce its energy bills, with new fencing and gates being installed for improved security.

New windows will also be installed and repairs made to the existing roof to minimise heat loss.

The interior layout will be reconfigured to include a new locker room, accessible toilets, breastfeeding facilities and a faith room (where officers of different religious beliefs can pray or meditate).

These proposals come nearly a year after the force scrapped its planned £6.2m upgrade of Yeovil police station in favour of refurbishing the existing building on Horsey Lane – a process which has already cost taxpayers more than £1.3m.

In a joint statement, police and crime commissioner Mark Shelford and chief constable Sarah Crew said: “We are committed to investing in our police stations across south Somerset to better serve our rural communities.

“The investment planned as part of the Chard police station refurbishment will provide a productive, collaborative, inclusive and future-proofed working environment for the officers and staff delivering policing services to the town.”

Chard Town Council’s planning and highways committee recommended that the plans be refused, citing the impact on the Chard conservation area (which includes many of the properties on Silver Street).

Democratic services officer Beverley Newman said: “The committee agree that the majority of this application is fitting; however they are unable to support this application due to the significant detrimental visual impact the proposed parking arrangements will have on what is a listed building in a conservation area.”

Somerset Council approves the plans through the delegated powers of its planning officers, rather than a public decision by its planning committee south (which handles significant applications in the former South Somerset area).

Planning officer Jacqui Churchill said: “The proposal, by reason of its size, scale and materials, respects the character of the adjacent conservation area and causes no demonstrable harm to the listed buildings, residential amenity, visual amenity, highway safety or other environmental concerns.”