A FORMER police station could be turned into houses.

Chelmsford-based Chignal Properties Limited have submitted an application to Castle Point Council to convert Hadleigh Police Station, in Hall Crescent, into two four-bed houses.

Four parking spaces will be provided and there will also be cycle stores.

The plans have sparked speculation about the future development of other closed stations.

Last year, Pitsea and Billericay police stations were closed and Canvey and Rayleigh stations shut their front counters while Essex Police aims to reduce money by cutting down on its estate.

Alf Papworth, chairman of Hadleigh Residents Association said: “It stopped being a police station years ago.

“We need more police, not more houses. You don’t see police around here anymore.

“Soon we won’t be able to move for the amount of houses.

“It is bonkers - we have a thing about building houses at the moment.

“I hope it doesn’t set a precedent for other police stations that have been closed down.”

The police station closed in 2009 and was put on the market.

It is thought that the station was not sold for some time due to the financial market crashing.

The building was used by police in the Nineties, before becoming a base for traffic wardens and then a coroner’s office.

Up until its closure, it was often used for top secret police operations.

There was a brief attempt to bring it back into use as a police station in 2009 by Bob Spink, the then Castle Point MP.

However, nothing came of the campaign and it has remained empty.

Residents can comment on the planning application by visiting Castle Point Council’s website by Tuesday, June 13.

A decision will be made by Friday, July 7.