A 140-year-old Nottinghamshire church building could be transformed into student accommodation. The former Methodist Church on Wollaton Road in Beeston could be turned into nine cluster flats, hosting 36 bedrooms for students, if approved by Broxtowe Borough Council.
The proposals would see the rear part of the building demolished, including the main lobby entrance, multi-purpose room, kitchen and WC facilities, with this section replaced by a three-storey extension. Three flats would be inside the existing church building, with the other six inside the extension.
Beeston Methodist Church became one church in September 2014, bringing together Chilwell Road Church, Clarke’s Lane Church, Inham Nook Church, Queen’s Road Church and the application site on Wollaton Road. The church started worshipping together for all services from March 2016, with the final services held at Wollaton Road in May 2019 before the building was sold.
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A representative for Beeston Methodist Church said the money raised from the sale will go towards the redevelopment of Beeston Methodist Church, now located on Chilwell Road. They added they had no involvement in the redevelopment of the building on Wollaton Road.
The applicant said the loss of the Methodist Church should not be seen as having a detrimental impact on the application, as it as no longer in use. The present building was constructed in 1882 to replace the original Baptist Church.
The church was comprehensively modernised in 1970, according to planning documents. Further refurbishments were undertaken in 1999 after planning permission was granted for the extension at the rear of the property.
The prospective developer said the design of the scheme has been carefully considered. They added the existing property will be sympathetically repaired and restored to reinstate its traditional character where required.
In a planning document, Reform Architecture and Interior Design Limited, on behalf of applicant NG9 Developments Ltd, said: "The application proposal seeks to develop an existing brownfield site and an under used building, which is currently occupied by a former place of worship. The loss of this place of worship shouldn’t be seen as detrimental due to the members relocating to the Methodist Church located on Chilwell Road, Beeston, a short distance away from our application site.
"The scheme will enhance the appearance of the existing site and bring new accommodation to the area in line with the local authority’s development aspirations and the need to create a diverse mix of housing in the area." The application is pending consideration by Broxtowe Borough Council.
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