A FORMER Essex Police station is set to undergo a £350,000 revamp to reopen as a community centre and the site of a new town council.

Wickford Police Station, in London Road, was closed to the public in 2011 and has been for sale since 2017. Initial plans for the site have been agreed by Wickford Town Council and Basildon Borough Council, with the borough bringing the funding.

It comes after plans were drawn up for social housing at the site, following the sale to Sempra Homes, Basildon Council's house-building company. In 2020, the council and Sempra Homes revealed plans for homes for veterans and key workers.

Then, Basildon council leader Gavin Callaghan announced plans for a community centre at the site after the homes' proposals were scrapped.

Wickford Town Council said it is exploring plans to bring the building back into active use to serve the whole community. A spokesman added: "The vision is to create a civic centre that supports local services, community activity, and provides commercial opportunities to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the site."

Cllr Callaghan called it "great news" for Wickford. He added: "Basildon Council is investing £350,000 to renovate the building and bring it back into use, creating the opportunity for a new Wickford Town Hall, alongside space for local businesses and voluntary organisations to grow and thrive.

"A building that has stood empty for almost 10 years will be brought back into use as a proper community hub, just as we promised to residents."