Former police station to be converted into homes

One of the UK's first police stations is set to be transformed into 13 affordable homes.

The former Prescot Police Station and law courts on Darby Street, which opened in 1870, have been derelict since 2011.

Now, housing association Prima Group's project will see the site converted into 13 shared ownership homes, including apartments, bungalows and houses.

The group's chief executive John Ghader said the funding would secure "the future of a historic and culturally important building".

About £3m of the funding will come from Prima Group, with the remainder provided by Homes England's Affordable Homes Programme, the Liverpool City Region Brownfield Fund, Knowsley Council's Affordable Housing Access Fund and a recycled capital grant.

The project would see the features from the original building retained, such as high Victorian vaulted ceilings and large glass brick windows.

The former cells and judge's changing quarters would be opened up to provide kitchen, dining and living spaces in one of the ground floor apartments.

A staircase that led prisoners from cells to the courtroom will become a feature of the communal area.

Ghader said the project means local people will be able to live in affordable homes "at a time when housing demand in the town is higher than ever."

Work on the project is set to be completed next summer.

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