THE POLICE station in Thornbury could be demolished to make way for a sheltered housing community.

An exhibition will be held next Tuesday by retirement home developer Churchill Retirement Living to set out its plans to build 36 flats for elderly residents where the police station currently stands on Rock Street.

In May last year Avon and Somerset Constabulary announced its decision to shut the station and put it up for sale. By the following December it was under offer.

The news came a year after the station’s front desk closed to the public in response to a drop in demand.

It had been averaging one or two visits per hour, with only four needing to be dealt with in person each month. It is unclear whether Churchill Retirement Living has already bought the police station.

Simon McFarlane, associate planner at Planning Issues, Churchill Retirement Living’s consultants, said: "The plans are for sheltered housing. Plans are going to be on our company website on the day or the day after the exhibition. The more people come to the exhibition the better."

The sheltered housing complex would include 36 one and two-bedroom sheltered flats for residents aged 60 years old or above, an owners' lounge, communal laundry room, a guest suite for overnight visitors, storage space and charging points for battery-powered buggies.

A 13-bay car park would also be built at the back of the residence.

In a letter sent to the Gazette, Planning Issues managing director Andrew Burgess described the proposed sheltered housing community as offering "significant advantages" to residents.

"Significant advantages of such a development are that older people are able to retain their independence longer, having the services of a lodge manager to call on in emergencies or simply for reassurance, " he said. "Independent living within a community also helps combat loneliness."

The public exhibition will be held on Tuesday, February 19 at the Cossham Hall (5pm-7pm).

Those unable to attend will be able to view Churchill Retirement Living ’s proposal on www.churchillretirement.co.uk