Weston-super-Mare’s former police station, which has ‘become an eyesore’, is set to be demolished as plans for high-end housing edge closer to materialising.

North Somerset Council has applied to demolish the vacant former base of Weston’s police, who moved to Junction 21 in 2017, ahead of submitting blueprints for its Walliscote Place project.

The neighbouring former magistrates court, which is also owned by the council, will not be razed – although a link connecting the buildings will be destroyed if the plan is approved.

The council, in conjunction with Government quango Homes England, hopes to create a swanky apartment complex in place of the former station, in Walliscote Grove Road, which it bought in 2015.

Homes England and the council are also working on other town centre housing projects, including Dolphin Square and Locking Road Car Park – which in unison will see hundreds of homes created.

The projects are part of the council’s town centre regeneration programme, with hopes it will spark an influx of investment.

David Pasley, North Somerset’s executive member for capital projects, said: “At the moment asbestos is being removed and once completed we will put out a tender for the demolition of the station.

“Demolition work will start in November and we look forward to implementing the next phase of this exciting project.”

Council officers will review the plans before a green light is given for bulldozers to move in, and it is hoped proposals drawn up by Homes England may be submitted soon.

Cllr Richard Nightingale told the Mercury he is pleased to see the project take a ‘step forward’, but affirmed the necessity of speedy progress from here.

He said: “The old police station building has become an eyesore. It is also riddled with concrete cancer which has left a question mark over its long-term future.

“I think, for safety’s sake and to further progress, the building needs to come down.

“But I trust development plans are well underway to replace it, without leaving the site derelict for any length of time.”

The Mercury understands the former court could be used for ‘cultural purposes’, and last month the council said ‘options are still in discussion’.