The site of the former Wanstead police station has been given the go-ahead to be developed after planning application was approved last week.

On Friday, Redbridge council granted permission for the development of the three-storey building and surrounding area in Spratt Hall Road, Wanstead.

Michael Sierens Associates has owned the site since November and has been given the all-clear to convert the building into a four-bedroom house, erect two three-bedroom houses in the former car park and one three-bedroom house on the site of the former stables.

The police station, opened in 1886, was designed by John Butler who had also designed the old Scotland Yard building.

In September last year, the Met police sold the site through property consultancy firm Knight Frank.

Residents had previously campaigned against the closure of the station, claiming it would reduce public access to officers and increase the time it took for the police to arrive at incidents.

Wanstead now has a police ‘contact point’ at Wanstead House community centre in The Green, which is staffed for just three hours a week by one police officer or community support officer.

Conservative Cllr Colin Cronin of the Snaresbrook ward said: "Having viewed the planned development of Wanstead police station, I'm satisfied that it will be in keeping with the surrounding conservation area.

"I'm also glad it's now progressing given the number of recent cases of squatting in empty police stations."

Chairman of the Wanstead Society, Geoff Horsnell, said: "We viewed the plans as very sympathetic to the listed building.

"This is the best outcome it could be as the building has quite a history and we would not want it to be altered in any significant way.

"The only real change will be to convert the cells into a kitchen and the outside will stay unaltered so we are very pleased."