NEW PLANS have been unveiled to knock down a historic police building in Southampton and build new homes on the site – which is set to get started within weeks.

Charles Church South Coast, one of the country’s leading house builders, has bought the land in Hulse Road for an undisclosed sum with proposals to build 44 new homes there.

As previously reported, Southampton City Council planning chiefs last year gave the go ahead for the demolition of the building and to replace it with houses and flats.

The green light came in November after BB Property Ventures lodged the plans to redevelop the site.

But now Charles Church have bought the land, with detailed planning consent for the 44 homes, and hope to get work started on a mixture of three-bedroom homes and one, two and three-bedroom apartments, within a month.

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.

But those teams moved into the city’s central police station in Southern Road, while the Southampton and New Forest Coroners’ Office, which was also based there, was merged with the Central Hampshire office, based in Winchester.

The new owners claim the new development will be ideal for first-time buyers and growing families, boasting great links into the city centre and beyond.

Steve O’Halloran, land director for Charles Church South Coast, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to create much-needed new homes for a range of buyers, in a very sought-after area.

“The development, named Banister Court, will comprise eight three-bedroom houses and two blocks offering one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

“The design of the homes is sympathetic to local buildings and we believe the properties will be very popular with local buyers.

“We have considerable experience in regenerating brownfield sites like this one which has lain empty for more than two years and look forward to transforming the location.

“Demolition work is expected to get under way within the month, enabling us to make a start on construction immediately.”