One of the most renowned buildings in Didsbury has now been transformed into luxury rental apartments after undergoing an extensive three-year redevelopment. The old Didsbury police station on Wilmslow Road has been given a new lease of life after a Manchester based property developer took over the abandoned site.
The former police station stems right back to the early 1900s and was a staple of the local village. Originally built for Lancashire County Constabulary, the station was taken over by Greater Manchester Police and for many years it was home to the Didsbury and Withington neighbourhood policing team.
A number of years ago the station was closed down as the force began selling off properties to raise money for new stations. The site was then left empty until developer Wasil Hussain, director of HUS Property Developments, stumbled across it during lockdown.
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"We first became interested in the building back in 2020. As I lived in Didsbury, a stroll through the village became my regular 'one daily' exercise during lockdown. The building caught my eye, and seeing it left in a sorry and abandoned got me thinking," Wasil told the Manchester Evening News.
"I was fascinated by the heritage, the look, the location. Everything about it was just perfect. Didsbury has some of the finest examples of Victorian and Edwardian architecture in the UK and this was no exception.
"A few phone and Zoom calls later, the building was ours. I’ve always said it’s the most beautiful building in Didsbury Village, so the opportunity to transform a historic local landmark like the old Didsbury Police Station was a dream come true."
With the 120-year-old site having been left in a derelict state, Wasil sought to breathe life back into the historic building whilst transforming it into six modern two-bedroom flats.
"When we purchased the building, it was significantly damaged both inside and out. The building had been the target of multiple break-ins over the years, and unauthorised occupants had barricaded entrances and caused damage to the walls," Wasil said.
"The interior was in a particularly poor state, with many of the original features destroyed or beyond repair. It was clear from our initial visit that this was going to be a challenging project, but we were committed to restoring the building back to its former glory.
"We believed that retaining ownership and renting out the apartments would allow us to provide high-quality rental housing in a desirable area. This also allows us to ensure the building is well-maintained and preserved for future generations to enjoy."
The huge renovation project began in 2020 and took three years to complete due to various delays and complications.
"The transformation of Old Station House started during the pandemic where we sat down with our architect to bring our vision to paper," Wasil explained.
"We were faced with many delays, both from a planning and construction point of view. During lockdown, Manchester Planning Department was overburdened with applications, resulting in limited staff being stretched, as homeowners looked to make home improvements.
"After many long months, we finally received planning approval and the project was underway. But with the building being situated on the ever-so-lively Wilmslow Road, we struggled with access.
"We had to be respectful to local businesses and residents whilst trying to deliver and clear material on a tight site. It was a real challenge, but we are so proud of our journey and thank all the local trades and professionals who have been a part of this project."
The transformation of Old Station House was completed in April 2023 and all six apartments are now up for rent with prices ranging from £1,900 to £2,300 per month.
Each modern apartment comes unfurnished with an open-plan kitchen living area, two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a utility room, but they each vary in size.
"Every apartment has been carefully designed with unique features and finishes, creating a sense of luxury and sophistication," Wasil said.
"The top floor apartments boast private balconies with stunning views, while the first floor apartments feature large sun terraces to the rear.
"Ground floor residents can enjoy their own private gardens. With generous floor plans, the ground-floor apartments are our largest size and offer an impressive 1100 square feet of living space."
Wasil says his goal for the interior design was to preserve the building's rich Victorian and police heritage while incorporating modern design elements.
"We have gone above and beyond to create an exciting and luxurious open-plan living space for our residents. All apartments come with their own state of the art integrated appliances and video intercom system to enforce privacy and security," he said.
"The bathrooms are truly a standout feature of these apartments, featuring elegant fixtures and finishes that rival those found in luxury hotels. High end details haven’t been missed out from beautiful Herringbone floors to stunning stone kitchen countertops.
"We wanted to create a space that would be both beautiful and functional so that residents would feel right at home as soon as they stepped through the door.
"We chose a navy blue theme that runs throughout the development, from the sleek kitchen cabinets to the doors, all reflecting the police heritage of the building. We also incorporated a grand Victorian-inspired panel door, which sit proudly on the front of Wilmslow Road, adding to the building's historic charm and character."
Wasil added: "While we would have loved to have been able to retain some of the original features of the building, unfortunately, due to the poor condition of the interior, it was not possible to do so.
"However, we were determined to preserve the building's historic charm in other ways, and so we focused on restoring the iconic frontage of the building, which had fallen into disrepair over the years.
"We even went as far as bringing back Victorian lamps to replace the police ones that had been taken down over time. We wanted to ensure that the building's historic charm was preserved, while still allowing it to have a second chance at life as a stunning residential development."
The developer believes the apartments are ideal for a wide range of tenants from families to young professionals.
"Didsbury is one of Manchester's most vibrant and sought-after suburbs, with a thriving community, one which I am proud to be a part of," Wasil said.
"Old Station House is located right in the heart of Didsbury Village, which means that residents will have access to an excellent selection of independent restaurants, bars, and boutique stores right on their doorstep.
"In addition to this, the area is renowned for its high-performing schools, which makes it incredibly popular with families.
"At the same time, the proximity to the city centre and excellent transport links make it an attractive option for young professionals who want to enjoy all that Manchester has to offer."
All six apartments are being marketed by estate agents Philip James.
You can view the Rightmove listing for each apartment, along with their prices, below:
- Two-bed top floor apartment, £1,900 pcm
- Two-bed top floor apartment, £1,900 pcm
Two-bed first floor apartment, £2,000 pcm
Two-bed first floor apartment, £2,000 pcm
Two-bed ground floor apartment, £2,300 pcm
Two-bed ground floor apartment, £2,300 pcm
You can register your interest here for any upcoming open days.
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