POLICE say plans to build a new housing development in York might not lead to the closure of a local station.

City of York Council's planning committee approved plans on Thursday to build 165 new homes in the city at Lowfield Green to the west of the city - 40 per cent of which will be affordable - and an 80-bed care home.

The plans submitted to the council included details of a health centre, which would also be used to house members of North Yorkshire Police, along with welfare facilities and potential for other community or public service related offices and meeting space.

A report submitted with the plans said: "The accommodation would be for police officers and community support officers as they come on shift (providing welfare facilities), so that they can be briefed and during their shift, so they can return to an office in order to write up notes and deal with case administration. It is also used to store operational equipment and some vehicles."

It also said an assessment on whether police needed more facilities on the site would be undertaken between the council and North Yorkshire Police at a future date.

The plans caused some speculation that if the development were to be given the go-ahead, the current police station in Acomb would be closed, and replaced with a smaller facility within the estate.

However, a North Yorkshire Police Spokeswoman said that although the force had been involved in discussions over the site, no plans had yet been formalised.

She said: "North Yorkshire Police was approached by the City of York Council in 2016 about proposals for a possible co-location on the old Lowfields school site.

"NYP responded with a letter of intent, agreeing that should the project provide for the current and future needs of both the local Community and NYP, we would work with the council on the proposals.

"At this stage, no agreed project is underway and it is firmly believed that whatever the outcome, there will remain an NYP presence in Acomb."