The council has greenlit plans to transform a former Methodist chapel into two cozy homes, despite some local concerns
The chapel, located on Chapel Street, was discussed at a recent council meeting. It was recommended for approval, which is great news for the community. The building has a larger hall, a smaller hall, and a side extension with a toilet.
Only the smaller hall will be converted. They plan to add a new suspended floor to create a first floor. The side extension will be taken down.
Both houses will have the same layout, mirroring each other. There was a plan to add a third bedroom, but that idea was dropped.
Some locals raised concerns, with 14 objections sent to the council. Issues included parking and worries about privacy. Loftus Town Council also expressed that the changes might affect the building’s character since it’s in a conservation area.
The council’s conservation advisor initially objected too, worried about the historic doors and windows. They thought replacing them with modern materials would ruin the look.
But good news! An agent confirmed that the historic features will be kept, which made the advisor change their mind. The highways team also said there wouldn’t be any parking issues or traffic problems.
A report showed that the distance between homes means no one will overlook each other, keeping privacy intact. This project seems to be a win for the village!
