Plans to transform a disused Gloucestershire church into twelve homes are inching closer to approval, despite concerns that inadequate parking could lead to "recipe for gridlock". Forest of Dean District planners have given officers the authority to greenlight the project at the Church of St John in Coleford.
The proposal by Czero Developments, which includes a range of one to four bedroom maisonettes and apartments, was discussed by the development management committee on April 8. The church stopped holding services in 2012 and was officially closed in July 2016.
It has been listed on the English Heritage 'at-risk' register since the 1980s. Over the past five years, the Diocese of Gloucester has been actively seeking alternative uses for the building.
The current proposal involves installing new windows and doors, as well as steel frames and concrete floors to support the new residential spaces. The developers have assured that key features such as the timber roof structure, stained glass windows, choir stone surround, and war memorials will be preserved.
However, local residents are deeply concerned about the potential impact on parking. Vicky Payne, a resident of the town, voiced these "strong and deeply felt" objections on behalf of her neighbours at the meeting.
She expressed grave concerns about the seriously insufficient parking proposed for the development, characterising it as "alarming" and a "recipe for gridlock".
“The application proposes a mere 17 spaces for 12 dwellings which is approximately 1.4 per household,” she said. “This figure fails to account for the likely vehicle ownership of two new households which removes 11 spaces, ten of which are being used as we speak. The majority of those people work from home. ”
She noted that it also leads to problems with kerbside parking near other properties, in addition to privacy issues arising from overlooking onto neighbouring homes.
"Boxbush Road already experiences significant and disruptive parking congestion," she continued, explaining that residents often contend with difficulties finding parking or are hemmed in by local business employees.
She implored councillors to dismiss the plans and encouraged them to put the safety and welfare of current residents first.
Coleford Town Councillor Stuart Cox endorsed the church's conversion, dubbing it the "only real viable option" to conserve the grade II listed structure.
Developer Simon Linford, responsible for the application, told officials he endeavours to save church buildings and noted that his proposals are sustained by existing precedents, highlighting that over 150 churches have undergone residential conversion since 1966.
He discussed the challenges faced by such buildings, including their size and maintenance costs, which often exclude them from alternative uses like community centres.
"We've addressed every whim," he said. "Even the reduction in usable floor space by a third."
He noted that since the building almost went to committee in 2022, it has suffered three more years of deterioration and is now uninsurable.
Councillor John Francis (I, Longhope and Huntley) suggested that the decision be delegated to officers, highlighting the benefits of the scheme as outweighing any negatives. "It will bring 12 units to Coleford," he remarked.
"It will actually retain a historical building and protect the heritage assets within the building.
"It will also protect the visual amenity of the building in the skyline of Coleford itself."
The committee voted in favour of the proposals, with seven approvals and two abstentions.
The councillors also agreed to delegate the authority to grant listed building consent to officers.
