A former Powys church in Powys could be converted into a dwelling after plans were submitted to the council.

The application seeking to convert a church in Aberedw, near Builth Wells, to a dwelling house used for short-term letting was submitted to Powys County Council recently.

The church, Aberedw United Reform Chapel, is a Romanesque building that is already part of a dwelling house but was licensed as a place of worship in 1837.

The application is seeking to change the use of the building from a place of worship to a dwelling house that will be used by the owners for short term letting.

As part of the council’s assessment of the application, Cadw, the historic environment service of the Welsh Government, said they had “no objection to the proposed development”.

They said; “The proposed development is located some 145m east of scheduled monument RD029 Aberedw Castle and 185m north of scheduled monument RD117 Aberedw Castle Mound.

“The proposed development consists of the conversion of a stone-built church to a residential dwelling with minor external alterations to the rear (south) elevation, a new arched window within the gable and patio-type bi-fold doors at ground level.

“This elevation will be visible from both monuments. However, as a minor alteration to an existing building, the very slight visual changes in the views from the monuments will not affect the way that they are experienced, understood and appreciated.

“Consequently, the proposed development will not have an unacceptably damaging effect upon the setting of scheduled monuments.”

The application also included a biodiversity enhancement plan and a green infrastructure statement that proposed building swift boxes and bat boxes to facilitate some of the wildlife in the area.

Heneb, an independent organisation dedicated to the conservation, investigation, recording and promotion of the historic environment of Wales and beyond, proposed that because the plan will alter the building that a photographic survey should be completed by an approved archaeological contractor to record the building in its present condition.

Powys County Council will make a final decision on the plan by Wednesday, December 4.