Plans for Exmouth's new police station can now move forward again after a bat survey of the site gave the all-clear.

Devon and Cornwall's Police and Crime Commissioner, Alison Hernandez, is proposing a £5million redevelopment of the North Street site, with a purpose-built police station and some housing.

In January this year the planning process suffered a setback because there was a possibility that bats were roosting in the cladding of the existing buildings on the site. East Devon District Council was unable to accept a planning application until this had been investigated.

The Commissioner’s estates team had to wait until summer for a survey of the site to establish whether bats were present.

Experts have now concluded that no bats are roosting there, and the Commissioner’s team are working with EDDC to develop a suitable proposal for the site, which can go before the authority’s planning committee.

The new station will have a staffed police enquiry office, and when finished it will conclude the Commissioner’s project to open or reopen 18 PEOs around Devon and Cornwall.

Ms Hernandez said: “Wonderful wildlife is a part of what makes Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly a wonderful place to live in, and while it is frustrating for officers, staff and volunteers to have to wait a bit longer to replace this building with a 21st-century alternative, I understand why we had to.

“I am pleased for those who will be working in Exmouth Police Station, and the public who will once again have access to a front desk in their community, that this project is back on track and design work is under way.

“Exmouth is one of many locations in Devon and Cornwall which see significant rises in summer populations and I will be working with the force to ensure it gets the resources it needs.”

When the police station is open, people will be able to attend the enquiry office to report crime, receive crime prevention advice and get information on services for victims of crime. A full list of Devon & Cornwall Police stations and opening times can be found at www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/contact/find-a-police-station.