AN historic church that has been left derelict for 10 years could be converted into apartments.

A plan has been submitted to Hyndburn Borough Council to transform Accrington’s Cannon Street Baptist Church into 11 flats.

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The church dates back to 1872 but was closed as a place of worship in 2006 and now is classed as “partly derelict”.

The council is set to approve or reject the application at a meeting later this year.

A statement from the agent Chris Wilkinson to the council said: “The proposal is to convert the disused church into one four-bedroom apartment, nine two-bedroom apartments, a one-bedroom apartment, with swimming pool and storage space to the basement.

“There will very few changes made to the external appearance of the building, taking note that it is a Grade II-listed building.

“The only additions will be windows and doors which will be framed in stone to match existing ones, a small wind turbine and solar panels in one South facing roof.

“There are to be no extensions to the building, the footprint will remain as existing.

“The floor areas will increase as new floors will be created within the building.

“There will be vehicular access to the front of the site off Cannon Street with 16 car parking spaces on a tarmac surface.

“There will also be vehicular access to the rear with five car spaces with two in the basement.”

A statement by heritage consultancy Garry Miller, submitted to the council, said: “Considering in the context of national planning policy, this harm is less than substantial, and outweighed by securing the viable use and future of the listed building.

“It is considered therefore that the proposal should be approved.”

Cllr June Harrison, who represents the area on Hyndburn Council, said: “I support this proposal as beautiful buildings should not be destroyed.

“Basically, if this plan is accepted, this beautiful building will be brought back into use 10 years on from when it shut its doors.

“It would be nice news considering what happened to the Conservative Club on the same street when it burnt down.”