Bacup's 'Juliet Bravo' police station to become flats (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Bacup's 'Juliet Bravo' police station to become flats

3:00pm Monday 16th July 2012 in Rossendale

Paul Masselis and Lesley Herman at the building and (inset) Anna Carteret as Insp Kate Longton

A FORMER police station used for the TV series Juliet Bravo is to be turned into new homes – by a criminal lawyer.

Bacup Police Station sold last week at an auction in Manchester for £110,000, well above the £60,000 guide price.

Buyers Lesley Herman and her partner Paul Masselis, say they could now create up to six new flats. But Lesley, who lives in Altrincham, said she was mindful of the building’s heritage in Rossendale.

She said: “We do not intend to make a quick buck by renting the place out. We want to create affordable houses and won’t be drastically altering the outer appearance of the old station. By sand-blasting the front we can return it to its former Georgian glory and we will make the insides as modern as we possibly can.

“Obviously we’re dependent on planning permission but we have been in touch with the officers already.

“We want this to be part of the regeneration of Bacup.”

The couple, whose company is Character Buildings, hope to meet the owners of the nearby Market Hall, which has also been earmarked for development into housing by its owners, to discuss the future of the area. Bacup town centre’s status as an Urban Conservation Area means strict rules apply to any changes.

Lancashire police moved staff out of Bank Street after dry rot was discovered in October 2010.