Plans for 'repair shed' to combat loneliness

If approved, storage buildings on the site would be demolished

Plans have been lodged for a "repair shed" to be built next to one of the oldest churches in Bradford.

According to an application submitted to the council, the development would encourage people to get together to carry out tasks like building bird boxes and repairing cherished items.

The Shed Project, a registered charity who would run the project, supports people who are retired, unemployed or live alone and helps to combat loneliness and isolation.

If approved by Bradford Council, the building would be constructed next to the church hall of St Peter's in Addingham.

Submitted by the Parochial Church Council, the plans will see two existing storage buildings demolished to make way for the new workshop.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the plans acknowledge that the work would be taking place in a sensitive site.

The land lies within the green belt and Addingham Conservation Area, as well as being close to St Peter's Church which is a Grade I-listed building and part of an Anglo-Saxon burial ground.

The applicant said: "The project will provide an environment to encourage socialising in the setting of a workshop, complete with a wide variety of tools and machinery in which participants can work together on personal projects or to support local charities and other organisations.

"The facilities will provide for hobbies, recreation or other leisure time occupations including practical interests, skill sharing and the learning of new skills.

"As well as making and distributing such items as bird boxes, bat boxes and hedgehog houses, the project will also facilitate small projects and repairs for those in need."

Referring to the development's sensitive location, the application said the project was "modest in scale" and would be largely unseen due to the location.

A decision on the planning application is expected in November.

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