Agenda item

Change of use of redundant chapel to 3 bedroom dwelling

Change of use of redundant chapel to 3 bedroom dwelling at Lands Methodist Chapel, High Lands, Cockfield

The Development Control Manager (Crook & Barnard Castle) presented a report on the above application; the written report was supplemented by a visual presentation which included photographs of the site.

The Committee was addressed by Mr Wills, representing objectors to the proposal; he mentioned that at least 76 people had objected and noted that this was a significant percentage of the very small local community. The loss of this community building would be regrettable and he suggested that approving the proposal could prejudice any civil case against the Church with regard to its closure. He claimed that the Church had given the impression that the building was in some respects unfit for use/occupation in order to justify closure; he believed that this was not just a civil matter and that, if approved, the conversion would take place before the dispute over closure was resolved. He challenged the assertion that the criteria of Local Plan policies BENV 13 and 14 had been met and suggested that holiday use would be far more appropriate than permanent residential use. He reiterated that no decision should be taken until the dispute over closure had been resolved and asked members to refuse the application.

The Committee then heard from Mr Cundick and Rev. Phipps, representing the applicant; they emphasised that the Church had followed its own procedures correctly in arriving at the decision to close the chapel and had also complied with planning policy requirements when formulating and submitting the current application. They believed that the best, indeed the only, option was to convert the building to residential use.

The Legal Adviser confirmed that the ongoing dispute over closure of the chapel was a matter between the Church and the objectors; the planning system could not be concerned with other regulatory regimes.

Councillor Wilkinson moved that the application be approved subject to conditions; he was seconded by Councillor Tomlinson.  

RESOLVED:

That the application be approved subject to the conditions detailed in the officer’s report to the Committee.