The former police station on Laburnum Avenue has been transformed over the past 18 months by Bluerock Homes, headed by co-founder Robbie Peel, with the company retaining many of the building’s original features and historic character.
Robbie, a Chartered Building Surveyor by profession, established Bluerock Homes more than a decade ago with his two partners. The Gosforth-based company specialises in small to medium-sized residential developments across the North East.
His route into housebuilding began after studying at Northumbria University before working for a multidisciplinary practice in Hexham. His experience covered building surveying, project management, architectural design, structural surveys and homebuyer surveys.
He later began undertaking property refurbishments before taking on his first major development, the transformation of a former community hall in Morpeth into five homes.
Since then, Bluerock Homes has completed a wide range of projects, including executive homes in Yarm, new-build and barn conversion properties at Boulmer, student accommodation in Newcastle and six apartments on Whitley Bay seafront.
The company’s latest project has seen the former Laburnum Avenue police station sympathetically restored and converted into nine homes.
“We wanted to retain as much of the character of the original police station as possible,” said Robbie.
“It isn’t a listed building, but it is certainly a building of heritage interest, and the planning authority were keen to see the original features retained and restored where possible.
“I think we’ve achieved that.”
The distinctive Dutch gables on the Laburnum Avenue elevation have been retained, while a number of original features from the police station have also been carefully salvaged.
The former Magistrates’ Court, which had been present to the centre of the site, was removed to create a courtyard and provide the required parking for the new homes.
Other parts of the site, including an old building associated with the former Welch’s Sweet Factory, were also demolished after being found to be unsuitable for modern residential use and affected by significant structural and asbestos issues.
The redevelopment has allowed Bluerock Homes to create four highly insulated, sustainable three-storey townhouses using structural insulated panels (SIPS), alongside the conversion of the original police station building.
The historic character of the site has not been forgotten.
Among the items salvaged are an original cell gate, which has been incorporated into the pedestrian access to the rear of the development, and ornate cast-iron ceiling roses from the former courthouse.
The ceiling roses have been shot-blasted and powder-coated before being placed onto the new vehicular access gates at the development.
Robbie also salvaged original Northumbria Police signage from the building, including signs from interview rooms and door signage from inspector’s offices.
Even sections of the original carpet featuring the Northumbria Police logo have been preserved, framed and incorporated into the development as a reminder of the site’s former use.
“The history of the building was something we were very conscious of,” added Robbie.
“We wanted to keep elements of it because I think people will appreciate those little reminders of what the building used to be.”
The development has retained its original identity, with the homes officially known as 1-9 The Old Police Station, Laburnum Avenue.
The nine properties comprise a mixture of three- and four-bedroom homes. The new-build properties are three-storey houses with balconies, while the converted properties are predominantly two-storey homes.
One of the properties combines the original building with a new extension and includes a large, light-filled studio at the top of the house.
“The fact that my name is the same as the person who basically invented the police force hasn’t escaped me and that makes it all the more important that I get this development banged to rights,” he smiled.
The properties are being brought to market through Cooke & Co at Whitley Bay.
For more information about Bluerock Homes and this development, visit www.bluerockhomes.co.uk and www.cooke-and.co.uk