PLANS to sell off and knock down a historic police building in Southampton and build new homes have been given the green light.

City councillors last night decided to vote in favour of the proposals to demolish the buildings at Hulse Road and replace them with houses and flats.

Until recently the buildings housed one of Hampshire Constabulary’s three major crime departments, as well as the Serious and Organised crime team, with some of the county’s most serious crimes being investigated and solved there.

With the site now largely empty, developer BB Property Ventures has lodged plans to redevelop the site with the city council.

The firm – jointly owned by Burton Property and Bargate Homes – will now look to officially buy the site.