Chapel could become flats after long planning row

The developer said it intended to be "respectful" and had worked with heritage consultants

A 150-year-old former chapel could be turned into flats after a decade-long planning dispute left the building in a dilapidated state.

Delph Chapel in Saddleworth, Oldham, was purchased by Pinnacle Holdings shortly before it was due to go to auction in February for £425,000.

The developer has announced it wants the run-down building, on the corner of Hill End Road and Delph Lane, to be restored to its former glory and converted into apartments.

The cemetery will remain open to the public and will be "regenerated" for the community, the Local Democracy Reporting Service has been told.

The developer said it intended to be "respectful" and retain as much of the building as possible, and had worked with heritage consultants and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Oliver Piotrowski, from Pinnacle Holdings, said: “Our aim is to honour [the building’s] heritage by preserving as much of the original features of the chapel as we possibly can and by giving the graveyard the respect and care it deserves."

'Vibrant asset'

He said the exact plans were still to be determined after exploratory works but it would be "designed to beautifully restore the chapel building and surrounding graveyard for future generations to enjoy".

"We see this project as an opportunity to restore the chapel, creating a vibrant asset that will benefit the town,” he added.

The chapel has long been a sore point in the local community, with previous attempts to convert it falling through after strong local opposition.

A dispute in 2011 also propelled it into the public eye after local residents were locked out of the graveyard, which is on private land connected to the building.

Pinnacle Holdings' project is in its earliest stages, with planning applications yet to be submitted to the council.

Once the plans are uploaded, residents of Delph will be allowed to comment on them.

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