PLANS have been approved for the redundant former police station in Poole to be brought back to life as apartments.

Dorset Police moved out of the old building on the gyratory system near the Civic Centre into their new joint emergency services building in Wimborne Road in December 2009.

Now planning permission has been granted by Poole planners to convert the L-shaped building into 42 flats of one, two and three bedrooms.

The three-storey block of office accommodation, dating back to the 1930s, will be increased by an additional floor, under plans submitted by Juno Development (Poole) Ltd.

“From going inside the building it is in a poor state of repair and there do not appear to be any important features of the building which should be kept in the re-use of the building,” said case officer Claire Spiller in her report to the Borough of Poole’s planning committee.

The single-storey cell block at the rear will be removed and there will be 46 parking bays in the courtyard.

“The use of the site for flats is acceptable in principle, given the location of the site on the gyratory where high-density development is in principle acceptable,” said the report.

“The proposal will remain in keeping with the character and appearance of the conservation area.”

Planning committee chairman Cllr Phil Eades said: “The committee was pleased to see the prospect of this redundant building, in the Poole Park Conservation Area, being brought back into use after having stood un-used for some time.

“Members were also pleased that, as part of the planning permission, the council has secured a contribution of nearly £432,000 towards the provision of much-needed affordable housing in Poole.”

Poole council’s Cabinet has also agreed to modify the restrictive covenant so that the police station could be re-developed as apartments.