Former police station to be turned into retirement flats

Churchill Retirement Living will convert an old police station into 47 retirement flats

A former police station in Wells will be turned into retirement flats, after councillors approved planning permission.

The building on Glastonbury Road will be converted into 47 properties.

Eight councillors voted in favour, with one voting against and another abstaining.

The new development will be run by Churchill Living, which already runs retirement properties in the town.

The police station was closed in late 2021, with officers moving to a new facility in the fire station on Burcott Road.

Councillors delayed the decision in March, after objections were made over the number of car parking spaces for the development, as well as over waste collection.

There had also been negotiations over the provision of affordable housing in other parts of the town.

Sensitive regeneration

A spokesman for Churchill Retirement Living said: "We are delighted to have planning consent for a range of 47 apartments specifically designed for older people so that they can live safely and independently with friends around them and support services on-hand should they need them."

The company said it would be a "sensitive regeneration of an existing brownfield site", which would increase spending in nearby shops and free up houses for younger families.