Homes plan for former chapel
A former chapel could be converted into two flats and its Sunday school annex knocked down to make way for a detached house, if plans are approved.
The Telford Methodist Circuit has applied to carry out the renovations at the disused Edgmond Primitive Methodist Church.
Application documents say the building’s external appearance would not be altered but a graveyard at the rear, which typically sees a burial “every couple of years”, would remain in use and be accessible to visitors.
The “dilapidated” Sunday school building would be replaced by a four-bedroom detached house.
Edgmond Parish Council will be consulted, and Telford and Wrekin Council will make its decision at a later date.
A design statement, prepared by planning agent Peter Richards on behalf of Circuit Support Manager Sharon Hanson, says the chapel is not current in use as a place of worship.
“It is appreciated that the site carries local importance to the character of the area and a residential conversion of the chapel, preserving the style, form and scale of the chapel, would be the most efficient use, whilst protecting this non-designated heritage asset,” he writes.
“However, cemetery and graves to the rear will be retained by the applicants for occasional internments – typically one every couple of years.
“The Sunday school is in a dilapidated condition and requires substantial repair and upkeep. Over recent years there has been no demand for this meeting space due to its condition and the availability of more modern and functioning spaces for assembly in the village.
The circuit is proposing to split the chapel, which was built in 1860 and hosted services until 2016, into two two-bedroom homes, each with a bedroom, bathroom and combined kitchen, dining room and lounge on the ground floor and a second bedroom upstairs.
This will be done, Mr Richards writes, without altering the building’s external appearance.
Six parking spaces will be provided, to cater for the incoming residents and visitors to the graveyard.
The four-bedroom detached house would be built to “reflect other properties in the area”, and would have two parking spaces and a garage, he adds.
