Council must pay campaigner over church changes

The conversion work has resulted in the loss of historic stained glass and ancient stone work being painted over, reported the LDRS

A council has been ordered to pay £17,500 to a campaigner who has spent almost seven years fighting to safeguard a Surrey church's historically important features.

The High Court has also told Runnymede Borough Council to consider if there were breaches of listed building control at the former Christ Church Longcross, near Chertsey, when it was converted into flats.

A spokesperson for the council said: "The council cannot comment on the likely outcome of the planning enforcement case, as the council must be fair and open-minded to both the site owner and to the claimant."

The conversion work has resulted in the loss of historic stained glass and ancient stone work being painted over, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Planning permission was granted in February 2020 to convert the building into five homes.

Theresa Burton, who founded the Friends of Christ Church Longcross in 2018, told Radio Surrey it was a "satisfactory outcome".

The former councillor claimed the local authority had failed to enforce an unauthorised demolition and alteration of parts of the Grade II listed building and challenged its decision to grant listed building consent in respect of the installation of vents.

Ms Burton said more than 50% of the stained glass has been lost as well as all the remaining leaded light windows.

Commenting on loss of the stained glass windows, Ms Burton said: "They were the fabric of the history and craftmanship of the building so we're hoping the council will address this."

The windows of the former church have been framed by UPVC

Ms Burton told the LDRS she first reported her concerns in May 2022 and then consulted with heritage advisors.

"In September of 2023, when the stained glass and historic windows were being replaced with the current mix of encapsulated stained glass and fake leaded lights for the remaining glass, all framed in UPVC, I contacted the council, as did The Victorian Society," she said.

Following a heritage report prepared by Bidwells and another report by Place Services Heritage Advice, Ms Burton said she launched the judicial review in December 2024.

Runnymede Borough Council said it was likely to revisit the planning decision in September.

"The case will be subject to redetermination at planning committee where the planning merits of the case will be considered in an open, transparent and fair manner," a spokesperson added.

"This redetermination may or may not lead to a different final outcome to the original decision."

The developer has been approached for comment.