Planners reject flats plan for disused church

PLANNING bosses at Warrington have thrown out a plan to convert a disused church into 10 apartments.
Members of the borough council’s development management committee decided the development at Hope Church, in Crosfield Street, involved far too many apartments.
Chairman Cllr Tony McCarthy said: “The committee decided parking was a major issue.
“It is already a problem in the area and an additional 10 dwellings, with no parking provision, would have led to a chaotic situation.”
Local councillors Tom Jennings and Sarah Hall has opposed the scheme – as had nearby residents.
They claimed the proposal would exacerbate parking problems in the area and could lead to up to 20 people living in the building. They also believed 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.
The church was built in 1981 and is in good structural condition but has not been used since  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 recommended the scheme be approved, said the congregation moved to another church because of maintenance costs