Nine residential apartments at Stannington Methodist Church, Sheffield

What was proposed

The application proposed converting the chapel and school rooms into nine apartments, demolishing the link building and adding storage and landscaping.

“Proposal Alterations and works to Chapel and school rooms to form 9no. residential apartments including demolition of single-storey link building, external alterations to buildings, provision of cycle store and bin store and hard/soft landscaping works…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The former church stands beside an infant school, includes a chapel and Sunday school, and would provide amenity space without on-site parking.

“The application site is the former Stannington Methodist Church, which is located on the corner of Stannington Road and Uppergate Road. To the west, abutting the site is Stannington Infant School. The submission documentation states that the church ceased use for worship in 2021.”

“The former church sits within the context of a wider graveyard. The application site boundary excludes this. Amenity space would be formed to the rear of the church. This scheme is proposed to be car free, with no onsite parking being formed.”

Officer report

Earlier application

A 2024 application for 12 apartments was refused, while this scheme reduced the homes, removed the access and parking, and revised the design.

“An earlier application for the change of use of the buildings to 12 apartments was refused in 2024. This application differs from the refusal in the following key ways; - The reduction in the number of apartment units from 12 to 9; - Removal of the previously proposed vehicular access and internal car park.”

“In February 2024, an application was refused for the change of use of church and former school hall to form 12 apartments with associated parking was refused (Application Reference 23/03377/FUL) The reasons were as follows;”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered that bringing the buildings back into use and providing housing outweighed the limited harm and parking disbenefit.

“The application seeks for form 9 residential units within the former Church and Sunday school buildings on the junction of Uppergate Road and Stannington Road. With regards to protected areas and assets detailed in paragraph 11d(i), the existing buildings are non designated heritage assets.”

“- The lack of any on site parking is considered a disbenefit. However limited weight is given to this as the assessment has concluded that sufficient on street capacity exists to absorb the additional potential demand without giving rise to unacceptable, or severe impacts on the local highway network. This may also limit the desirability of the units to the target market particularly, however this is an issue for the developer.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An attendee spoke in support of the application.

What members considered

The committee considered the application, officers’ recommendation, representations and relevant planning considerations.

“71b.4 The Committee considered the report and recommendation having regard to the development plan, the National Planning Policy Framework and other relevant considerations as summarised in the report and supplementary report, now submitted and also having regard to representations made.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee granted planning permission conditionally for the nine-apartment conversion and associated works.

“71b.5 RESOLVED:- That an application for approval of planning permission be GRANTED, conditionally, for the reasons set out in the report and supplementary report, for alterations and works to Chapel and school rooms to form 9 residential apartments including demolition of single-storey link building, external alterations to buildings, provision of cycle store and bin store and hard/soft landscaping works at Stannington Methodist Church, Stannington Road, Sheffield, S6 6AN…”

Minutes