Crookes Valley Methodist Church, on the corner of Crookesmoor Road and Crookes Valley Road in Sheffield, is within walking distance of Sheffield University and the area is already popular with students.

Over the past few years the once-impressive 19th-century church, which closed in 2003, has been vandalised.

If a planning application is approved at a meeting on Monday, October 13, the church and adjoining Sunday school will be converted into 58 one and two-bedroomed flats, along with two parking spaces for disabled people and cycle racks.

The building itself would be kept intact and original materials would, as far as possible, be used in the conversion. Some original features, such as railings, would be added and a decrepit fire escape would be removed, allowing an original window feature to be restored.

In the report, planning officers say the conversion would be a "viable way of arresting the decline of the building".

The report adds: "The former Crookes Valley Methodist Church is an impressive listed building located on a prominent corner position.

"For some years it has remained unused and there are now signs of neglect, to the degree that the building is at serious risk of being damaged and possibly permanently lost."

Another planning application for the site, for 18 new apartments to house 89 students, was granted by Sheffield Council in December 2006.

Should it be granted, therefore, this new application would provide an alternative and the owner could then decide which development to carry out.

This latest application has attracted a considerable weight of opposition from local residents, community groups and council leader Paul Scriven, who has objected in his capacity as ward councillor.

Coun Scriven said: "There is an over-concentration of houses in multiple occupation in the area and another 58 units aimed at students will cause further disamenity for those living in the area.

"This type of development, without any suitable parking provision, will cause greater strain to the local highway network and therefore will cause further problems and danger to both road users and pedestrians."

Another objection has come from the South Yorkshire Bat Group, which urged the developer to carry out an ecological survey prior to any works being carried out.

The group added that the conversion could "cause destruction or major disturbance to roosting bats and their roosting sites."

A number of letters of objection from residents have also been received by Sheffield Council's planning department, which oppose the development on a variety of grounds.

These include concerns about parking problems and the impact on wildlife, as well as the potential for an increased student population to create additional noise and disturbance in the area.

Other objectors have said that, while they have no opposition to the church being converted, the flats should be used to house families or couples rather than students.

Planning officers, however, have recommended that the application should be granted planning permission, subject to a number of conditions relating to issues such as the materials used in the development.

The decision will be made at a meeting at Sheffield Town Hall at 2pm on Monday, October 13.