PLANS to expand a church in Liversedge to add apartments for the elderly and a community hub look set to be approved.
The scheme for St Andrew’s Methodist Church on Bradford Road would see a four-storey building created on the site, incorporating a church, community facilities, and 22 one-bedroom apartments for older people.
It also includes a roof garden and the apartments would all be for affordable rent to over-60s who “accept the Christian values of the Methodist church”.
The proposed new building by Haven Methodist Care Ltd would have an internal footprint of 455 sqm3 – an increase of more than 34 per cent on the current buildings.
Internally, the space would be split over four floors and a roof terrace, with community facilities being located on the ground floor and the apartments laid out over the first, second and third floors.
Some of the flats would have their own private balconies.
In a design and access statement accompanying the plans, it states: “The residents will use and assist in running of the community related facilities on the ground floor for the wider neighbourhood.
“In addition, to the church, additional services such as a bistro/cafe, a hall for community activities, hair salon and clinic, together with an office, store rooms and toilets will also be provided.”
On the ground floor there would be a church hall and shared residents’ dining area, a café area and kitchen, as well as a community hall.
A report by planners to Kirklees Council’s Heavy Woollen Planning Sub-Committee on December 15, states that the proposal “contains elements of community facilities, including retaining the existing church, a café area, and community hall as well as new residential dwellings”.
During the public consultation, there were 15 comments, 13 of which were in support of the development, and only one against.
Kirklees Council’s highways originally objected to the scheme on car parking grounds as 26 spaces are proposed. The authority’s calculations would have expected 53 for a development of this size.
But the applicant states that car ownership amongst future residents is expected to be inherently low, due to the age restricted nature of the proposals and the proximity of nearby public transport and local good and services.
The plans are recommended for approval, along with conditions, including the age-restricted and faith-based occupancy and a contribution of £31,000 to off-site public open space contribution.
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