Plans to convert a town's former police station into housing have resurfaced - with a building that was once a magistrates' court now included in the scheme.

Carlisle-based Swarbrick Associates has lodged an application with Allerdale Council as it looks to transform Wigton's old police station, in Station Road, into six two-bedroom apartments.

Under plans tabled last year the company had initially wanted to scrap the frontage of the former court building.

But following concerns from the council's planning department and the area's conservation officer it withdrew the application.

The plans have now been resubmitted to retain the front of the old court and only have six apartments, rather than the previously-planned five plus two houses.

In a statement prepared by Swarbrick Associates for the council, staff at the firm wrote: "The existing main front elevation to the former magistrates court is to be retained fully but the lower section of brick buildings to the south west is to be demolished.

"These buildings are designed not to be welcoming in appearance and made with engineering brick of utilitarian appearance.

"They are not visible from the road and do not contribute to the conservation area."

It added: "The rear section of the main building will also require demolition and, beyond the main court room, is a collection of ancillary rooms and appendages that would be difficult to convert effectively.

"Our heritage consultant has carried out a site survey and confirms there are no features internally that warrant retention."

The station hasn't been in use since 2011, when Cumbria Police announced it was to sell off a number of stations across the county as part of cost-cutting measures.

The force believed that the review into its assets would save about £119,000 a year in running costs.

Officers added the way people used stations had changed and visitor numbers were in decline, while technology allowed police to do more while out and about.

Other stations included in the sell-off plans were Cockermouth, Keswick, Egremont, Alston, Maryport and Cleator Moor.

At the time the idea of selling off police stations was announced, some community leaders voiced their disappointment.

But the force said it was a “small number of buildings” that were “under-occupied and under-used”.

Experts commissioned by the applicants report that because the buildings at the moment are empty, the proposed plans to convert them into housing will not damage the town's character.

The buildings are believed to date back to 1868.

A number of organisations have been consulted about the plans, including Cumbria County Council's historic environment officer, Jeremy Parsons, who had some concerns about the loss of the historic buildings.

He wrote: "The application is a significant improvement on the original application in that it proposes to retain the principle architectural interest of the building – the eastern façade of the former magistrates' court.

"It will demolish the remaining structures, which are of lower architectural interest, and the loss of these is unlikely to have a detrimental visual impact on the conservation area.

"The demolition of the structures will, however, remove buildings that are of historic interest because of their former use as a police station and magistrates court.

"As such, these buildings are considered to be undesignated heritage assets of local historic significance.

"I therefore recommend that, in the event planning consent is granted, the buildings are recorded prior to alteration and demolition."

Wigton Town Council did not object to the development.

At a recent meeting, councillor George Scott said: "The whole frontage will be kept in situe, which is brilliant."

Any comments or objections need to be lodged with Allerdale Council by the end of today (FRI) as the formal consultation period ends.