Plans to convert former presbytery in Sabden into two homes

The building in Whalley Road, known locally as Bank House, in Sabden, once served as the presbytery for the Roman Catholic parish and even doubled as a chapel before the present church was built in 1937.

It has stood as part of the village’s streetscape for well over a century, its stone walls and gothic-style doorway marking it out as a building of local character.

Under proposals submitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council, the two-storey property would be divided into a ground-floor house and a first-floor apartment.

The former presbytery in Whalley Road, Sabden (Image: Sunderland Peacock Architects) While much of the exterior would stay the same, the plans include repair work to the stone and windows, removal of paint from some walls, and the replacement of modern fascias and guttering with more sympathetic materials.

Two new doorways would be added – one at the front and one at the back – to create separate entrances for each home.

At the rear, a row of modern garages would be demolished to make space for parking, with two spaces for the house and one for the apartment.

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Developers say the work would not only bring the old building back into good condition but also help provide an income for St Mary’s Church, allowing it to continue its role as a hub for worship and community life in the village.

The presbytery sits within the Sabden Conservation Area and is classed as a “building of townscape merit” for the positive contribution it makes to the area’s character.

"The proposals argue that the changes would preserve and even enhance that character, removing unsightly additions and improving the building’s overall appearance."

To view the plans in full, visit the council's planning website.