NEARBY residents have lodged objections to a plan to demolish a disused church in Warrington town centre and convert into 10 apartments.
The scheme involves Hope Church, in Crosfield Street, which overlooks Bank Park.
The residents claim the proposal would exacerbate parking problems in the area and could lead to up to 20 people living in the building.
They also believe there would be a loss of privacy, an increase in noise and light pollution and that a proposed bin store would cause harm to the living conditions of existing residents.
The apartments would be very small – some residents say five would be acceptable – and there are bats and birds living the building.
They also claim work has already started on converting the building.
Ward councillors Tom Jennings and Sarah Hall have also lodged objections on similar grounds.
A report to be considered by the borough council’s development management committee says the church was built in 1981 and is in good structural condition. It was last used in 2015.
The building is not listed nor locally listed. It has at some time been extended at the rear with a modern conservatory.
Planning officers, who are recommending the scheme be approved, say the congregation moved to another church because of maintenance costs
Residents oppose plan to convert church into flats
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One of our members has questioned the bat survey to see how it was performed. We did the same. For the omega development near Gt Sankey.
BTW the Omega challenge was for Water Voles the applicants ecologist found none but Cheshire Wildlife Trust found evidence in 2008. So who is right?
Oh and one of our members are looking into evidence of hedgehogs at an appeal site at Culcheth development.
We must try and protect what wildlife and habitat we have before it goes under the bulldozer 😬
Priceless Geoff – do you not remember being on the payroll and sitting at the top table and approving similar submissions!
The church isn’t to be demolished, the plan is to squeeze 10 apartments into the existing building!
Yet again the advising officers to our “planning chiefs” show no consideration for the parking problems that will arise from this proposal. Little wonder we have traffic problems across the borough.