A HAMPSHIRE landmark is set to be demolished.

The now abandoned police station in North Walls, Winchester, will be knocked down if a planning application by the University of Southampton is approved.

The station closed at the end of 2015, and staff relocated to a new headquarters at Mottisfont Court, which was the former county council building in Tower Street.

However, it is not clear what plans the University of Southampton has for the building. The university already has the Winchester School of Art in the city at Park Avenue.

The Daily Echo understands the existing building is not suitable for university use and the university feels demolition is the best option.

In a planning document, the plans are to remove asbestos materials, strip surfaces and isolate drainage before a demolition excavator knocks the building down.

Landscaping would be enhanced and new fencing and gates installed.

Liberal Democrat ward councillor for St Bartholomew Cllr Dominic Hiscock, pictured, welcomed the move as the building was no longer serving any purpose, adding that the university had a good track record of development in the city.

Cllr Hiscock said: “I will be keeping a close eye on this and will be interested to see what plans the university has for the site.

“It makes sense for that the university acquired that site and use it properly if they have expansion plans so they can retain their operation within the campus they have.”

Conservative ward councillor for St Bartholomew Cllr Rose Burns said she had mixed feelings about the building being demolished.

She called for university bosses to keep people informed of their plans.

what they’re planning to put on the site.

Cllr Burns said: “We need to have chapter and verse about what they are planning.

“The university buildings in Park Road are not in a good way and if they are going to do anything at all they need to do something with those buildings.”

A university spokesman said he could not give any details about plans for the site at this stage.