A listed former church building in Bacup town centre looks set to become a multi-purpose community venue for events such as music concerts, art exhibitions and farmers’ markets.
The former St John the Evangelist Church on Burnley Road could also have a small holiday apartment built next to it, according to plans which are being recommended for approval by Rossendale Borough Council’s Development Control Committee this week.
Applicant Freddy Khattab is seeking full change-of-use permission for a range of work, some of has already been done and some is proposed. Previous planning permission was given in 2015 to allow the old building to be converted into a home.
Various 3-D drawings and other plans have been created for the applicant by Buttress architects in Manchester and submitted to the borough council.
The grade II-listed building is described by Rossendale planning officers as a key building in Bacup’s conservation area. Officers are recommending approval and the plans have been described as suitable by the Historic England organisation.
A planning report for councillors at this week’s development committee report states: “Full, part-retrospective change-of-use permission is sought to turn the main building from a house to mixed community use and residential use to enable events such as a farmers’ market, a gallery and concerts, with an element of residential accommodation retained.
“The application incorporates internal and external alterations to the building, plus landscaping and retaining works. Also the construction of an external toilet block and construction of a new, standalone one-bedroom
apartment for use as a holiday let.”
The proposed opening times for the new venue would be 9am to 9pm on weekdays, 9am to 11pm on Saturdays and 10am to 9pm on Sundays.
Nine letters of support have been received. Supporters say the new venue would make Bacup better by bringing social, economic and tourism benefits. The extra toilet block would benefit the town, other farmers markets are popular, cultural life could be boosted and the landmark building would be saved from falling into neglect.
Five letters of objection have raised concerns about parking, the closeness of proposed toilets to neighbouring properties, disruption, litter and late night disturbance.
The report adds: “Several comments have been received from local residents highlighting potential issues with noise disturbance from events held at the building.
“It is understood that several events have been held at the premises in the past, without planning permission, which have caused noise nuisance late into the night through sound escaping from the building and from patrons’ voices once they have left the building late at night.
“These events took place without any restriction on the hours of operation and without the benefit of any acoustic glazing being installed. However, the council’s Environmental Health team has been consulted on the current proposals which now include full details of the proposed acoustic and secondary glazing to be installed, and full details of the extraction-ventilation system to be installed – and have raised no objection subject to these being installed.”
Any concerts held before the new sound-proof glazing is fitted must end by 6pm, officers are recommending. No outside music will be allowed.
Eight car parking spaces are proposed for staff on a cobbled area west of the old church
Rossendale councillors will consider the plan at the development committee meeting on Tuesday, December 14, at the borough’s offices in Futures Park, Bacup.
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