PLANS to refurbish Tavistock's historic former Police Station and the Guildhall were relayed to town councillors during a presentation by the Devon Historic Building Trust (DHBT) last week.

Sue Spackman and Mike Hickie from DHBT informed councillors of the trust's plans for the buildings and gave an update as to how the project was progressing.

Mrs Spackman said that this project had been occupying the trust's time for quite a while, due to a large amount of consultation.

She said: 'The restoration process follows very high standards — this is not something to be rushed.'

The trust is proposing to split the group of buildings — the Guildhall, police station, old fire station and Trowte's House — into two main sections.

The historic Quarter Session Court, including the cells, bench and dock will be preserved and the rest will be turned into three residential units which will be made available for sale.

The trust obtained the police station in July 2010 but did not get possession of the building until February this year.

Since then the trust has considered many options, carried out appraisals on the buildings and undertaken public consultation as well as consultations with the local authorities and English Heritage.

Mike Hickie said: 'The National Trust was interested in acquiring all of the buildings but unfortunately it withdrew.

'We had to begin looking for other options. The original report showed little interest from commercial tenants and so the buildings have little value as an investment.

'We would have to create an income to carry out the refurbishment as any grant aid available would not be enough to cover the costs.

'The option we decided on was to turn the police station, the old fire station and Trowte's House into three houses. This created the best value for us and the best use for the buildings.

'Unfortunately even the value created by the houses would not be enough to cover all the costs.'

Mr Hickie said English Heritage had put the buildings on the 'At Risk' register, which meant that the buildings were able to be considered for grant aid and have now been granted up to 70% of the cost to refurbish the roof.

The trust has instructed the architects to put in the planning applications for the three residential units — two three bedroom units and one four bedroom — which it hoped would be approved by the end of December.

'We have decided to pursue the work as shell only, so there will be no kitchen etc, to allow people to buy the properties and finish the interior themselves.

We have also prepared a listed building application to refurbish all the buildings' exterior, including the Guildhall,' said Mr Hickie.

The trust aims to carry out the work in three phases, starting with the work to the police station and old fire station first. The sale of the first two residential units will fund the second phase to turn Trowte's House into another residential unit. Then phase three will be to refurbish the exterior of the guildhall.

Mr Hickie said: 'We are hoping that the sales and the English Heritage grant will be sufficient to fund the work, but at the moment, we do not have the money for the refurbishment of the interior of the guildhall.

'We will have to look at that as a separate project.'