Former 19th Century Police Station to Be Transformed Into Affordable Homes
Plans to convert a former police station and law courts dating back to the late 1800s into affordable homes have been approved.
Prescot Police Station in Derby Street will be redeveloped by local housing association Prima Group to create 13 affordable homes made up of apartments, bungalows and new houses.
Opened in 1870, it was one of the country’s first purpose-built police stations and a large number of original architectural and operational features have been retained in a carefully designed scheme that sympathetically complements Prescot town centre’s conservation area.
The main building with gothic features, special brick detailing and carved stonework, will be converted into seven apartments keeping the Victorian period high-vaulted ceilings and large glass brick windows.
The cells and former judge’s changing quarters will be opened up to provide kitchen dining and living spaces in one of the ground-floor apartments while the shape of the courtroom roof will be retained to form upper-floor duplexes.
A staircase that led prisoners from cells to the courtroom will form a feature of the communal area.
Externally, all sandstone brickwork will be cleaned and parts of the main façade will be repointed with lime mortar to further help return the station to its original appearance.
Outbuildings that were previously stables and used for storage have been retained and will be redeveloped into two bungalows.
In the courtyard, four energy-efficient three-bedroom homes will be built all while staying in keeping with the historical site by using brick facades and materials such as slate roofs and stone lintels.
The homes will have a range of energy efficiency measures including heating systems, smart technology thermostats, battery storage, low energy lighting, EV chargers and communal bicycle charging points.
Instead of large panels, photovoltaic tiles will be discreetly installed using an inlaid system for a flush finish that blends into the roof.
Prima Group Chief Executive, John Ghader, said: “Being given permission to redevelop Prescot Police Station is fantastic news for the local community, returning an architecturally and culturally important building of great heritage value and interest back to its former glory.
“It has sat empty since 2011 but will now be transformed into a place where the buildings have been sympathetically and elegantly regenerated and much-needed affordable energy efficient homes created.
“The police station and courtroom were purpose-built in 1870 so it is important we respect original features and we have done this by working closely with Knowsley Borough Council’s planning and conservation team to develop a scheme that also secures its long-term future.
“Once completed, it will be a really welcome addition to the local landscape with interesting, characterful homes people can be proud of.”
The completed scheme will improve biodiversity by introducing lawns, newly planted areas, bird and bat boxes, and permeable paved surfaces to soften grounds that are currently fully tarmacked.
Prima Group, which was then known as Pierhead Housing Association, bought the site in December 2019 just before the Covid pandemic.
Detailed surveys were conducted to ensure the planning application to Knowsley Borough Council complied with complex legislation and policies required for a building of this age, historical importance and architectural merit.
Prima Group hopes to start on-site in spring 2025 subject to government funding for such schemes.
