New church and community centre plans approved

Allerton Methodist Church is no longer fit for purpose, said the council

Plans to demolish and rebuild a church that will double up as a community centre for the area's growing congregation have been approved.

The project at Allerton Methodist Church will also include a new remembrance garden, eight flats and a cafe, said developers.

The existing church building at the junction of Greenbank Road and Chapel Lane is blighted with rotting timber and no longer fit for purpose, according to Bradford Council.

The new venue would provide Sunday morning worship for up to 80 people, with other services to reflect the community's "diverse work and school and college patterns".

The hall would also provide activities to "promote friendship, community and hospitality for the older community" as well as activities for young people.

The proposals were submitted to the council by the managing trustees of the church earlier this year and were given the green light this week.

Developers said the building would be constructed on a car park on the site and the existing building would be demolished and replaced with eight flats.

There are a number of Commonwealth war graves on the site and the new garden of remembrance would be created around these graves, according to the planning application.

The venue would also be a food bank collection point and work with Rooted In to support its work with children in the Allerton community.

The new venue will be able to seat up to 80 worshippers

The application said: "Allerton Methodist Church has held a significant historical and religious importance to the Allerton community since the first Methodist Chapel was erected on the site in 1833.

"It has been shown that there is a strong desire to maintain a community facility on the same site but to create a modern facility which can cater for the increasing population and modern requirements."

It added: "The congregation has increased significantly with people joining the fellowship and the existing building is unable to support this."

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission - responsible for 11 graves on the site, - supported the application, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Approving the works, planning officers said: "The proposed development will produce a more contemporary and modern appearance to the site, yet the design is considered to harmonise within the context of the locality.

"The proposal represents high-quality design with appropriate landscaping that respects the character and amenity of this allocated urban green space."

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