Delayed church conversion set to get blessing from councillors

a stalled plan to convert an “almost cathedral-sized” Leeds church into 171 flats could be back on track after being held up by the financial slump.

Developers were given permission three years ago to partly demolish Mount St Mary’s Church at Richmond Hill, build a seven-floor extension and demolish the presbytery and create a five-storey block.

But the downturn in the economy has meant the applicant, MSM (Leeds) Ltd – part of Rushbond Plc Group – was unable to implement the scheme within the three-year planning time limit.

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The developers are now asking for an extension of the time limit to allow them to get the plans off the drawing board.

Both buildings are now in an advanced state of dereliction following the closure of the church in 1989, according to Leeds Council. Both are on the council’s buildings-at-risk register.

A Leeds Council planning report says the plans have to be decided by councillors and, ultimately, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, because of the sensitive nature of the site and the buildings.

Mount St Mary’s Church is grade II* listed and its associated presbytery grade II, so both buildings require time extensions to the listed building planning consent granted in June 2008.

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The report, to be discussed by members of the plans panel east next Thursday is recommending that the plans be given a time extension but should be referred to Mr Pickles’s department for final approval.

The report notes the financial background which has prevented the development going ahead: “Since the applications were granted consent in June 2008, the downturn in the economy has meant the applicant has for financial reasons been unable to implement the scheme within the original three year time period associated with each application.

“An extension of time is therefore sought in the hope the market recovers sufficiently to allow the development to be implemented.”

The scheme proposed to demolish the nave and aisles of the church and replace the space with a modern extension with a similar scale to the original structure.

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A “feature” window will be provided in the west gable to create a “lantern” effect at night to imitate the church’s original west window which would be demolished, according to the planning report.

The chancel, transept areas and altars would be retained and restored, including repair of the stained glass windows, the high altar and steps.

The remodelled church would contain 62 flats (one and two bedrooms), with most of them within the seven-floor extension.

The presbytery would be demolished and replaced with a five-storey residential block containing a further 109 flats with one and two bedrooms.

Altogether 95 car parking spaces would be provided.

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Backing for the plans has previously come from English Heritage, whose experts said the poor condition of the buildings and the difficulty of conversion, and lack of viability, meant that the changes proposed may be justified.

Seven local householders made various objections to the renewed application for an extended time limit.

One said that the level of demolition proposed was unacceptable and that profit should not be put before the retention of historic buildings.

Other objectors criticised the lack of developer financial contributions to affordable housing, green space and public transport.

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The council says the developer does not propose to make any such contributions. A financial appraisal had been provided to support this approach.

The council says that flat schemes have been hard hit by the recession and the potential return on the development is likely to be worse than it was in 2008.

The report urges councillors to support the applications.

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