Flats plan for church sparks concerns over graves

The Church of the Holy Innocents on Vicarage Road could become two homes if the plans are approved

Fresh plans to convert a Grade II listed church in Dewsbury into housing have sparked concerns among families with loved ones buried in its graveyard.

A proposal to turn the Church of the Holy Innocents in Vicarage Road into two homes was initially turned down by Kirklees Council in 2023.

The new plans, submitted by the same applicant, outline a conversion of the church into two properties, each with four or more bedrooms, and a car park.

However, members of the public have expressed concerns about the potential impact on the graves and the the close proximity of the proposed homes.

The plans put before councillors in 2023 were turned down on the grounds that the applicant had not demonstrated their benefits would outweigh the harm to the building.

Councillors at the time also said they were not convinced the development was "appropriate" for the area.

'Very upsetting'

So far, 14 members of the public have objected to the new plans, which mirror the proposal rejected two years ago, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

One submission to Kirklees Council stated: "I have a family member in this graveyard and feel it would be very upsetting for families of loved ones to visit and tend to their graves."

"People sit and take in the peacefulness of the churchyard. How will the building works affect the graveyard? Will it still be accessible? What about if there's any damage?" they asked.

Another objector said: "It is unclear from the drawings how access is going to be facilitated for me and other people wishing to tend and visit the graves of loved ones.

"At the moment we all park on the road and walk into the site, which is all that I think needs to be maintained, but it might not be appropriate if we have to walk past windows to the new residential conversion or have to visit graves with children playing noisily outside."

Supporting documents on behalf of the applicant said the existing graves close to the proposed car parking areas had been surveyed and would "not be disturbed" by the works.

A new "perimeter landscaped boundary" was also a feature of the plan to separate the graveyard and residential development and that would act as a "screen", according to the applicant.

Councillors are expected to make a decision on the proposal by 20 May.

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