‘Eyesore’ former Methodist church to be converted into apartments
‘Eyesore’ former Methodist church to be converted into apartments
Plans to convert a former Methodist chapel into flats have been approved by planners.
The scheme involves building 11 flats at the old Westfield Congregational Church, in Horbury, and demolishing a vacant Sunday school building beside it.
The site dates back to 1878 but has been out of use since the early 2000s.
A planning statement submitted to Wakefield Council on behalf of applicant Roxburgh Property Investments said the chapel roof had collapsed and the building had “seriously deteriorated” in recent years.
The document said the property had been up for sale “for a significant period of time.”
The council previously approved plans to convert the church into 12 apartments in 2013 but the work was not completed and planning permission expired in 2018.
The statement said: “It is acknowledged that in recent years the site has been the source of local problems, including the partial collapse of the roof to the chapel.
“Subject to the grant of planning permission, the site will be brought forward for development in the short term which will address the problems of the site and provide a useful addition to the housing land supply in a highly sustainable location.
“This proposal will ensure the long-term retention of a historic building located close to Horbury town centre.
“It is considered that the alterations to accommodate the new use proposed are sensitive to the form and nature of the chapel.”
The scheme includes knocking down the Sunday school to create 12 parking spaces for future residents.
The building is not listed with Historic England but is in a prominent location which “formed the gateway” to Horbury’s conservation area, a council planning officer’s report said.
The council received 12 objections to the proposal, including one from Horbury Civic Society.
The society said it welcomed development at the site but argued that the proposed work would “totally change the character of the chapel.”
The objection said: “The development is a poor pastiche which should be better at the edge of the conservation area.”
The report added: “The proposal is considered to constitute sustainable development.“Subject to the imposition of appropriately worded planning conditions, there are no overriding policy or technical reasons to withhold planning permission.”