Ely’s police station is too gloomy and needs a revamp to bring it up to scratch – according to plans submitted this week.

Prisoner cells and an accompanying exercise yard are no longer in use at the Nutholt Lane station and will make way for new office space, locker rooms and windows under plans submitted to East Cambridgeshire District Council.

Promising a “contemporary” design, consultants acting for Cambridgeshire police said: “The existing facilities are no longer in an ideal configuration for use as a modern police station.

“The custody suite is no longer in use resulting in large amounts of disused space which could be put to good use following some minor alterations.

“Once this space is in use as office space there will be a desire to allow more natural light into the property through larger windows.

“Having operable windows will also increase the amount of natural ventilation, which the existing fixed lights do not allow.

“The proposals also include works to bring the disused exercise yard into use as internal space following the formation of new external walls and a new roof.”

A decision on the plans is expected within the next eight weeks. To view the plans, or to have a say, visit www.eastcambs.gov.uk