Plans to convert a Methodist Church in the East Riding into two homes have been approved by East Riding Council. The plans include the demolition of the Church’s main hall.
The, now approved planning application, sought permission to convert the Keyingham Methodist Church on Main Street, in the East Riding village, into two homes. Plans say that the Church, in part, dates back to the 1840s but has been “empty for some time” and could now provide “the highest standard of 21st Century living.”
The main Church building, which borders Ings Lane is to become two, two-storey properties. The building is essentially to be split in half with the northern half (referred to in plans as ‘The Chapel’) becoming a five-bedroom home accessed from Main Street, whilst the southern half (referred to in plans as ‘The Vestry’) becoming a four-bedroom home with its front door on Ings Lane.
The 1970s-built hall building, located to the West of the Church, is to be demolished. Plans say the demolition of the hall will provide outdoor space for the new dwellings.
The application site also includes the Chapel Cottage located on Chapel Lane. In August 2022, the council approved plans for the change of use of the cottage into housing, having previously been a cafe. The recently approved application involved the reconfiguration of the cottage’s outdoor space to provide on site parking for the residents of the two new dwellings.
Plans explained that the demolition of the Church Hall building would also be in the interest of those living in the Chapel Cottage due to the proximity of the hall to their land. Vehicle access to all three properties, the cottage and the two new homes, will come from Chapel Lane.
Despite the Church being out of use, the application explained that following the change of use of the building, other places of worship are available in the village. The applications points to St Nicholas Church and the Village Hall as alternative places of worship in Keyingham.
The Council’s Report of the Director of Planning and Development Management, which recommended approval of the application stated the proposals “would bring a viable use to the building which has been vacant for some time and whilst it would result in the loss of a community facility it is considered that existing facilities within the settlement can adequately serve identified needs in an equally accessible manner such that the loss would not be an issue.” Having been approved on October 30, work on the development must now begin within three years otherwise the planning permission will expire.
By: Andrew Spence, LDRS
