Construction is underway on the site of the former Wanstead police station.

Planning permission was approved in August last year for the three-storey site in Spratt Hall Road, Wanstead.

Michael Sierens Associates is converting the building into a four-bedroom house, while erecting 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 2013, the Met police sold the site through property consultancy firm Knight Frank.

At the time, residents 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.

Both Conservative Cllr Colin Cronin of the Snaresbrook ward and the Wanstead Society said they were satisfied the plans were “sympathetic” and “in keeping with the surrounding conservation area”.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: WANSTEAD: Future of police station still in doubt

Wanstead police station was located next to Christ Church Green.