Incredible behind the scenes photographs of a former police station and law courts where a new housing scheme is planned
Photographs of a former police station and law courts in Prescot(Image: Prima Group)
A derelict former Merseyside Police station and law courts is to be transformed into new homes, which will include original features such as cells and a courtroom. Prescot Police station was bought by Prima Group in 2019, which plans to create a range of new affordable housing units.
The police station first opened in 1870, and was one of the country’s first purpose-built police stations. Prima Group said the new development will retain a most of the original architectural and operational features, as it develops a range of housing types including apartments, bungalows and new houses.
Details of the project have been published on Prima Group’s website and states: “The main building with Gothic features, special brick detailing and carved stonework will be converted into seven apartments, keeping the Victorian period’s 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.
Photographs of a former police station and law courts in Prescot(Image: Prima Group)
“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.
The project is part of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s (LCRCA) £60m Brownfield Land Fund, which plans to create more than 4,500 new homes on derelict sites across the region.
Photographs of a former police station and law courts in Prescot(Image: Prima Group)
At a LCRCA meeting tomorrow (December 12), elected members will be presented with the Strategic Investment Fund Quarterly Report, and asked to approve the funding of several new projects, including a £325,000 grant for the police station site.
The five developments proposed for inclusion in the Combined authority’s project pipeline are Sentinel Way in Aintree, Mather Avenue in Liverpool, St. Monica’s Church, Stewart Avenue in Bootle, Stork Inn, Billinge, and Prescot Police Station. In total, these projects have requested £2.8m from the Brownfield Land Fund, which will create 113 new homes on previously developed sites.
Photographs of a former police station and law courts in Prescot(Image: Prima Group)
Prima Group Chief Executive, John Ghader, said: “Developing brownfield land is going to be crucial in tackling the housing crisis and while some sites are easy to build on, transforming old buildings like this are far more challenging but crucial we do so given how significantly important architecture and history is in our communities.”
The five priority schemes have been identified by the Combined Authority’s Housing team, with the collaboration and support of the relevant local authorities. Knowsley Council leader, Cllr Graham Morgan said: “We are working hard to tackle the housing crisis and ensure that people right across our area have a great choice of high-quality homes.
Photographs of a former police station and law courts in Prescot(Image: Prima Group)
“Building on brownfield sites is key to making that happen, there are around 700 of them with enough space to build 42,000 homes.
“These developments, which could be added to our project pipeline, are a great mix of schemes offering a wide range of different housing types.”
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