Council urged to approve plans for historic Leeds church and Gurdwara
A historic former church which was used as a Sikh temple could be turned into a gym and library if the council gives consent
.New plans have been submitted for the conversion of the Union and Congregation Chapel site on Chapeltown Road.
The Grade II-listed building dates back to the 1870s and was used as a Gurdwara from the 1960s.
The church has been vacant since a bigger temple was built opposite in the late 1990s.
Last year an application to convert the building into a dance studio was blocked by Leeds City Council.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reported earlier this year that its owners say they have been left in limbo after being locked in a planning wrangle.
Almost £1 million has been poured into the former Chapel, but the Sikh community, which owns the site, says the council refused plans to convert it into a ballet studio.
Speaking at the time Bikram Pal Singh, president of the Sikh Temple, told the YEP: “Leeds City Council knows very well that a lot of public money has been spent on the premises to bring the building back to life. They just want to let the building go to ruin again."
A new design report said: “This application follows a recently refused planning application and seeks to address the council’s previous concerns.
“The elements which caused concern during the previous submission, namely the inclusion of external air conditioning units and the insertion of a mezzanine floor, have now been omitted from the scheme.”
If approved, the current proposal would create a gym and fitness centre on the basement and ground floor, along with a library and lounge area.
The report said condition of the site, which includes the former Newton Park Union Chapel, had deteriorated after it fell victim to fire and vandalism.
Its redevelopment would include partition walls and other alterations.
The report by Urban Future planning consultancy urged the council to grant planning permission, saying the proposed scheme would not negatively affect the Chapeltown Conservation Area.
It said: “The council cannot expect the building to remain vacant and fall into a state of disrepair.”