Plans to breathe new life into the former Ulverston police station and courthouse can now move forward after the sale of the premises completed this week.
Building Design Northern Limited said it had completed on the purchase of the former constabulary buildings, paving the way for work to start on the development of a multi-use leisure destination for Ulverston.
Last year, the firm, which is based in Ulverston and Sunderland, unveiled plans to transform the empty building, which has fallen into a state of disrepair, into a mixed-use venue of commercial space, offices, boutique-serviced accommodation and new homes.
The former police station will house office space, with jail cells reimagined as boutique accommodation. The superintendent’s quarters – the west wing – which was demolished prior to BDN’s acquisition of the site, will house further serviced accommodation, with each apartment having its own en suite and kitchenette space.
Meanwhile, the courthouse will incorporate a new restaurant pavilion with a surrounding courtyard of former garages converted into independent commercial space that is expected to attract a range of retail businesses.
Three one and two-bedroom dwellings will replace former MOT garages, and will be centred around a communal amenity space.
BDN will relocate to the police station and the plans follow on from a similar project it has has undertaken in Sunderland, with the £3m regeneration of a former railway stables in the shadow of Sunderland AFC’s Stadium of Light, which is being converted in a similar way, into a mixed-use food, drink and leisure venue.
Director of architecture and head of BDN’s Ulverston office, Joe Warner, said: “Not only will the police station provide a unique experience for visitors who stay in the serviced accommodation or frequent the eateries and retail spaces we create in this space, but it will also provide us – as BDN – with an inspiring new office where we can proudly welcome our clients and our growing team.
“We have been operating out of Ulverston for many years, but this space provides a permanence that shows the commitment we have to growing our presence here – it’s something we are really excited about, particularly because of the prominence of this building.”
The station buildings fell out of use in 2015, when they were vacated by the police, and despite being privately sold, the premises have remained unoccupied since.
BDN, an award-winning architectural, civil and structural engineering firm, established an Ulverston office in 2018.
