A FORMER police station which served the community for more than a 110 years is to be transformed into flats – despite opposition from residents.

Oldham Council has approved an application to turn Failsworth Police Station into six apartments. An petition opposing the plans was submitted.

The station, on Oldham Road, was opened in 1892 by the Lancashire Constabulary and was originally run by special constables.

It was later transferred to Greater Manchester Police – and 110 years later became the home of the Failsworth and Hollinwood neighbourhood policing team.

After that team was relocated in 2016, GMP decided to sell off the historic cop shop. A property developer snapped up the two-storey building, which included the station’s cells, for £190,000.

The new development, which also includes a first floor extension at the back of the building, will be split into a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments.

A 30-strong petition had been lodged against the plans by neighbours – and six formal objections were made.

Residents said they were concerned about the knock-on effect on traffic, parking and noise.

The pollution control department raised an objection over the proposed sizes of the bedrooms.

Planning chiefs said there would be "appropriate" living space, and the impact of neighbouring amenity was "acceptable".

In their report, officers said: “It is considered that the proposal is acceptable in land use terms and would not have a harmful effect on neighbour amenity, nor have a detrimental impact on the character of the existing street scene.”