Condemned church could be demolished for housing

Fordhouses Methodist Church in Wolverhampton closed in March 2020

A condemned church could be demolished to make way for new homes.

Plans to knock down the former Fordhouses Methodist Church on Winchester Road, Wolverhampton, and build nine homes have been lodged with the city council.

The 90-year-old building has been empty since it closed in March 2020 as a result of falling congregation numbers.

The building has since been condemned by the council after asbestos was exposed when its roof partially collapsed, according to the planning application. The proposal has been submitted by developer Meronford, which said it was “uneconomic” for the church to be reopened.

A statement included with the application said the development would provide a mixture of two and three-bedroom houses.

“It represents the opportunity to provide a windfall site with a scheme of architectural merit, whilst assisting the city to meet its housing supply commitments,” it added.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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