St Luke’s Church, Fairfield Park, Stotfold
A Grade II listed Stotfold church could be converted into six new homes if planning permission is given.
Under plans submitted to Central Bedfordshire Council, St Luke’s Church in Fairfield Park would become two two-bedroom flats and four three-bedroom flats.
Dating back to 1879, the church was built for use by the patients of Fairfield Hospital, which was itself converted into apartments after closing in 1999.
Having been deconsecrated when the hospital closed, the church has been redundant for some years.
A document submitted alongside the application argues that alternative uses for the church are restricted by a number of covenants, as well as the cost of repairing, converting and maintaining a listed building.
The document says: “The covenants prevent the use of the church as a café/restaurant, health and fitness club, entertainment venue, for any retail use or for use for public meetings or exhibitions.
“The applicant also concluded that office use would be unviable following advice from local commercial property consultants who confirmed the serious oversupply of office premises both locally and regionally.”
It continues: “The applicants received planning permission in 2010 for the change of use and conversion of the building to a seminar and research facility for overseas students.
“This would provide them with a foundation programme before going on to further studies in the UK, Canada or Australia.
“However, shortly after this permission was granted government legislation relating to this type of facility changed and the proposals could not be implemented.
“It was therefore the applicant’s conclusion that conversion of the church to residential units was the only potentially viable option.”
With regards to the building’s heritage, the document adds: “The proposed conversion of the church to six residential units has been carefully designed to minimise the loss of historic character and fabric.
“Many of the internal fittings have been stolen or vandalised since the deconsecrating of the church in 1999 and much of the internal significance has been lost.
“The proposed conversion will not therefore cause any harm to the character and appearance of the interior of the church.”
The application also argues that bringing the site back into use would mean a “significantly reduced profit” for its owners.
CBC is therefore asked by the applicant to waive obligations to provide affordable housing in the development or to contribute Section 106 funding.
Under Section 106 agreements, developers looking to build in the district can be compelled to contribute money for community use as a condition of planning permission.