Conservation fears over church flats plan

The plans would see the Victorian building converted into nine aparments

Plans to turn a former church in Bingley into flats would cause "substantial harm" to the listed building, a conservation officer has said.

Proposals to convert the Grade II listed Bingley Independent Methodist Church, on Leonard Street, into apartments were submitted to Bradford Council in August.

The application states there would be some loss of the building's historic fabric, but the conversion would ensure it's "long-term future".

Jon Ackroyd, the council's conservation officer, said the work would "drastically alter" the listed building's interior.

The changes would see the building subdivided to create nine "spacious" flats, with alterations including a second floor being created inside the church, according to planning documents.

According to the application, the works would "preserve and enhance the significance of the building."

"Overall, the proposal will represent an enhancement and an investment in the long-term future of this historic asset," the application said.

"The scheme has been designed to incorporate as much of the building's original plan form as possible whilst facilitating the conversion."

However, Mr Ackroyd said the chapel had a "completely intact interior" with open and box pews on the ground floor and a raked gallery around a central oval well, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"This interior is exceptionally rare in such non-conformist chapels, most having been altered or lost entirely," he wrote.

'Exceptionally well preserved'

Mr Ackroyd also said the developer's heritage statement did not "sufficiently consider the significance of the heritage asset".

"The importance of the interior is substantially under-regarded and largely dismissed," he added.

He said the alterations would "drastically alter the spatial qualities of the interior, currently open from ground floor to ceiling, and open above the first floor balconies".

He also said the fittings throughout the building would be lost and were of contemporary age with the 1860s church providing a "visually harmonious and exceptionally well preserved ensemble".

"This is a very rare survival in Nonconformist chapels."

He concluded: "At present the proposals would cause substantial harm to the listed building, based on the predominant loss of the interior, which is a fundamental component of the significance of the heritage asset."

A decision on the application is expected imminently.

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