Church to be converted to flats – despite objections from neighbours

PLANNING chiefs have approved the conversion of a disused Warrington church to provide five flats.

Windsor Property Holdings have won planning consent to change the use of the former Hope Church, in Crosfield Street, into five self-contained flats.
Objections were received from four nearby residents on the grounds of loss of privacy, parking issues and loss of light.
In particular, they were concerned at the lack of any parking provision for the properties.
In January 2018, an earlier proposal from the same applicant to convert the church building into 10 flats was thrown out by borough council planners after nearby residents and local councillors had lodged objections.
In 2015 a plan for eight flats was also rejected.
Previously, neighbours have said that five flats would be acceptable but four residents again objected..
Hope Church dates from 1981 but has not been used since 2015 when the congregation moved to another building because of rising maintenance costs. The building is not listed.
But planning officers said it did have some aesthetic value that would be retained. The front of the building would remain largely unaltered.