A DISUSED Dukinfield church is to be converted into apartments after planning permission was granted.
Six homes will also be built in the grounds of St Luke’s, at the junction of King Street and Boyd’s Walk.
Various heritage fixtures and fittings of the Grade-II listed building, which opened in 1889 but has been vacant since 2016, will be kept.
However, the former Sunday School will be demolished as six two-bedroomed properties rebuilt in that area, with 10 one-bedroomed and two two-bedroomed apartments being placed in the church building.
A first and second floor will be introduced, along with a lift and stairwell inside while outside, there will be improved ramp access, repairs to masonry, windows and mortar as well as the introduction of rooflights, 18 car parking spaces and private gardens.
Applicants St Luke’s Dukinfield Ltd, headed by Richard Kay, produced the plans after the former chapel and Sunday school building went on the market for £300,000.
And they stated: “The internal areas of the church are not suitable or safe for use, and the entire building is in need of significant repair of the external fabric and the interior surfaces and finishes.
“In addition to the heritage benefits associated with the building’s repair, the works proposed will facilitate the conversion of the building for use as apartment accommodation thereby securing a long-term use for space which is presently vacant and in deteriorating condition.”
A letter was sent to 100 surrounding residential premises and residents were invited to view the scheme proposal.
Dukinfield’s three ward councillors were also contacted and an online public consultation was hosted.
Feedback included it being important to maintain the overall 1889 appearance and the apartments not being out of the price range of local people.
And it was pointed out it is important that the new dwellings are designed to have noise cancelling properties as King Street is a busy main road.
After taking the feedback on, the applicants secured planning permission at a meeting of Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee on Wednesday, May 29.