Netting to stop masonry falling on street approved

The building was described as "an important landmark" in planning documents

A church in Leicester with crumbling masonry can have external safety netting installed, the city council has decided.

Concerns had been raised that some of the stonework on the Grade II listed Victorian building, currently used by Seventh-day Adventists, could fall into nearby roads.

Permission has now been granted for netting to be installed across the University Road and London Road frontages of the church.

But conditions mean the netting should be in place for a maximum of three years and installed in a way masonry and mortar could be restored afterwards.

In July, the church's board said steps now needed to be taken to prevent fragments from "falling directly on to members of the public".

In a decision notice on the proposal, planning officers stated: "An approval will be time limited to ensure the installations do not become a permanent fixture, as the works will create visual clutter that brings some harm to the appearance of the listed building.

"Loose stonework at high level presents a risk to the public and the applicant will need to develop a plan for repair works longer term."

The church's board previously said the time was "not quite right" for a major renovation of the church, partially due to funding.