Community hall conversion at Congregational Chapel, Middleton By Wirksworth

Earlier committee decision

Members previously deferred the application for further information about ecology, operation, parking, community support and the graveyard path.

“This application has previously been referred to Planning Committee and on 11 February 2025 members resolved to defer the application for the following reasons: • A Pre-liminary Ecological Survey of the building to establish the presence of any bats or birds. • A Business Plan with percentages of community usage and revenue estimates including detail how the two uses would work in practice (residential use is not compatible with community use at the same time).”

“Since the 11 February 2025 planning committee meeting the applicant has submitted additional information: • Proposed Uses for Middleton Congregational Chapel Statement • Middleton Community Hall Approximate Income and Expenditures • Monthly Usage Calendar • Proposed Landscape Plan • Statement for clarification of graveyard path • Bat survey • Biodiversity Net Gain report…”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the community use would reuse a redundant building and was considered acceptable with conditions and rooflight removal.

“Subject to the removal of rooflights and conditions requiring further details of the windows, render specification, alternative internal layout plans, screening to air source heat pump and detailed plan showing new entrance to graveyard; the proposal is considered acceptable with regards to heritage considerations and the NPPF and local plan policy PD2.”

“The proposal will bring back a redundant building into a community use (class F2) the reuse of buildings for alterative use is encouraged by the NPPF and local plan policies in the interests of sustainable development. Officers are satisfied that the additional information has helped to clarify how the building could operate as a community use and the use of the building as a community is supported by policy HC15 and the NPPF.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The parish council and conservation consultees raised concerns about use, parking, biodiversity and harm to the heritage asset.

“Conservation Objection 12.02.26 While the proposed change of use from a redundant and vacant Place of Worship to Community Hall is considered acceptable, the alterations proposed within this application will result in significant levels of harm to the character and historic and architectural interest of this heritage asset, and fail to preserve or enhance the Wirksworth Conservation Area, of which, Middleton Congregational Chapel is a landmark building.”

“Creation of new parking area • While the partial loss of the track-side boundary wall is regrettable, it is considered that the provision of dedicated on-site parking - which will contribute towards an optimum viable use of this notable building - is likely to outweigh the proposed level of harm, particularly if parts of the wall and the large monolith gate post are retained.”

Officer report

What residents said

Residents objected over parking, traffic, overdevelopment, amenity, childcare and group accommodation, graveyard access, community need and conservation impacts.

“The application was subject to a re-consultation in March 2025, in response to the re- consultation a total of 46 responses were received from 41 individuals objecting the proposal and the main issues raised are summarised below:-”

“Inadequate parking provision to service use which will lead to overspill car parking in surrounding streets; • Intensification of use will significant increase traffic movements; • Over development of site – scale and intensity of proposed use are out of character with the surrounding area; • Lack of demonstrated Community Need – village adequately served by other venues; • Impact of neighbouring residents’ amenity; • Conflict between hotel use and child care use –…”

Officer report

Who spoke

Thirteen local residents spoke against the application, and late resident correspondence raised concerns about use, traffic, noise, amenity, access, parking and heritage.

The committee debate

A motion to refuse for lack of evidence supporting community use was defeated before members considered approval with stronger management and graveyard conditions.

“During debate Councillor Peter Slack moved a motion to refuse the planning application. This was Seconded by Councillor Gareth Gee on basis that there was no evidence to support the change of use to a community facility.”

“Before the use is commenced a detailed management strategy shall be submitted to and agreed in writing by the LPA. The strategy shall include specific details for the management of the premises, an emergency out of hours contact, a plan for continued community engagement, an action plan for addressing issues arising from such engagement, rules for the use of external spaces to maintain the character of the graveyard, a plan for maintaining the graveyard, arrangements for…”

Minutes

The committee decision

The committee approved planning permission with the report’s conditions and additional requirements for management, graveyard protection, maintenance and public access.

“That planning permission be approved subject to the conditions set out in the report and additional conditions referred to below with delegated authority to the Director of Place and Economy to approve any amendments to those conditions as deemed necessary.”

Minutes