Plans to create a new £500,000 police station in Accrington town centre have been officially submitted to the council.

The Observer revealed last year how Lancashire Police will sign a minimum five-year lease if the move is approved and generate more than £100,000 in rent for the council.

Police bosses said it would cost an estimated £1.1m to refurbish the current station at Spring Gardens in Accrington.

A design and access statement sent to Hyndburn Council said the scheme at 8-10 Broadway has been developed following a request by West Division to ‘address the demands placed on them to improve the service to the public, and to meet the demands placed on modern day policing’.

The station will include a public enquiry area, office and welfare accommodation and pedestrian access will be from the front with vehicle access from the rear service yard

Council leader Miles Parkinson said it will ‘really enhance the town centre’ and bring two empty units back into use.

A poll carried out by the Observer on our website last year found that 48 per cent of readers were in favour of the move with 52 per cent against.