Free school reveals plans for derelict Hackney Central Police Station

The now-closed Hackney Central Police Station

Conversion: Hackney Central Police Station is to become a free school. Photograph: Hackney Citizen

It has been occupied by squatters and lain empty for over a year but proposals are now in to convert the former Hackney Central Police Station into a Muslim free school.

The Grade II listed police station on Lower Clapton Road was bought by the government for £7.6m last year and handed to the Tauheedul Education Trust for use by the Olive School.

The school describes itself as a “Muslim faith school that promotes traditional British values and welcomes applications from all religions and none”.

Currently with 270 pupils on its roll, the school hopes to grow to a three-form entry with room for 630 pupils once it relocates from its temporary location in Stoke Newington. It plans to open in September 2017.

Planning documents reveal the school’s proposals to refurbish the listed police station, retaining the distinctive blue police street lamp as well as the ‘police’ engraving above the entrance door.

The curtilage listed “parade building” and outbuildings in the back yard will be demolished and a new three storey building erected.

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View of the designs from St John’s at Hackney Church

A Victorian house at 32 St John’s Street will also be refurbished and used for administrative purposes.

The “historic” external staircase would be removed as it is deemed unsuitable for use by the school.

The school also proposes to keep a bank of four police cells. One former lock-up will be used as a medical room while another will be kept as a museum to show a “complete example of an historic cell” in the former police station.

The main pupil entrances will be located on Lower Clapton Road, Churchwell Path and St John’s Church Road.

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View of the designs from Lower Clapton Road

The police station closed in 2013 and was bought by the Department for Education last year following the Tauheedul Education Trust’s “exhaustive search for school premises”.

Residents can comment on the proposals until 26 October.

The Olive School was approached for comment.