A former police station in Belvedere will be bulldozed to make way for two dozen new flats under controversial new plans.

Councillors approved a scheme put forward by Homeland London Limited to concrete over the old cop shop in Nuxley Road for a new block of luxury pads.

Earlier this year the disused station was being used by rough sleepers who were refusing offers of help from the council.

The former nick was home to a youth offending team, a crime reduction unit and a community disorder team.

Nearly 60 neighbours wrote to the council to oppose the new scheme for 26 flats, claiming the new build would be too tall, overdevelop the area and would cause parking problems.

A petition of more than 200 signatures was also handed in, based on the idea that the development would overwhelm All Saints Church and that there is not enough parking included in the plans.

“I am against this application,” one resident said at a planning committee on Thursday night (February 28).

“The proposed building is too massive for the site. It’s appearance is unsympathetic.

“It will dominate and spoil an attractive entrance to Nuxley Road. It is an overdeveloping of the site.

“The design is out of place. People have historically come to Belvedere from other parts of the world. The appearance of our surroundings is of great importance.”

There will be 53 cycle spaces on site, along with 14 car parking spaces, which one councillor dubbed “lob sided”.

Chairing the meeting, councillor Peter Reader said he could not support the application, adding: “Knowing the village as I do, it does have a detrimental impact on the area and I feel it is overbearing as well.”

However, at the planning meeting, councillors said the new homes would help regenerate a dilapidated site, and voted them through.

Councillor Danny Hackett said at the meeting: “I do believe this is a really good addition to what we have there. The old police station is a mess, something needs to happen. If you take this and what is happening further down in the village, I think this is a key addition.”

Councillors approved the plans for 26 flats, spread across three, four and five storeys, saying it would be for the area.

It was revealed last year that the station was sold for redevelopment for a reported £1.25m following its closure in 2015.