Crumbling church in line for redevelopment after decades

The derelict state of Middlewood Church has worried residents for some time and two years ago they submitted a petition to Sheffield Council demanding that "action is taken to remedy the neglect, secure the building and bring it into productive and sustainable use."

Since then, the council has forced the owner to undertake repairs to the church, which has included clearing vegetation, boarding up the windows and repairing a hole in the roof.

In a report to go before a meeting of Sheffield Council's west and north planning board next Tuesday, Phil Abbott, head of planning at the council, says: "The building is now generally in reasonable condition, however there are concerns over the interior and there is risk to the building if it continues to remain unused.

"This problem will be overcome if planning and listed building consent are secured and acted upon."

Mr Abbott adds that planning and listed building consent applications for Middlewood Church are expected "in the spring" and plans are being prepared, although it is unclear what the redevelopment will entail.

A previous owner submitted applications to convert the church into apartments, and these were granted in November 2004, though that planning permission has now lapsed.

The church has been empty since Middlewood Hospital closed in the early 1990s.

The Grade Two-listed building was originally built as the chapel for the Middlewood Asylum.