Flats plan for historic police station closed since 2018 is approved
The former historic Darlaston police station could finally be redeveloped after the latest set of plans were given the go-ahead.
Walsall Council planning officers have given the green light for a proposal by The Broomfield Group to create nine apartments in the Victorian building on Crescent Road.
Representatives for the developer said extensions will be carried out at the rear of the building but the striking frontage of the old station will not be altered as part of the new scheme.
In 2020, the authority’s planning committee granted permission for eight flats to be created in the building but this was not progressed and The Broomfield Group revised its plans to include an extra apartment.
The historic former police station has been closed for a number of years and changed hands for more than £650,000 at auction
It is believed the station dates back to 1899 but the decision to close it was taken in January 2018 by the office of the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner as part of cost-cutting measures.
Agent BHB Architects said: “The redevelopment plans as proposed, will bring a currently redundant and vacant building back into use in the heart of Darlaston and will provide much needed apartments in the area.
“The proposed scheme addresses the applicant’s requirements that complements the existing layout whilst being in keeping with the style of the overall building.
“The new extensions and alterations to the existing building have been designed following significant appraisal of the development and provides a high quality response to the site constraints.
“The extensions have been designed with considerable focus to ensure that this massing is kept relatively low to the existing building, to ensure it does not become too prominent.
“As such, we believe the proposed extensions and alterations will sit acceptable alongside the existing former Darlaston Police Station building.”
