A former church on the Isle of Wight could be turned into homes, nearly eight years after its last service.
Once known as Grace Church, Beulah Chapel was built in 1854 on Church Street in Seaview, but closed due to a dwindling congregation.
Split into two homes
It was sold in March 2021, as it was surplus to requirement, and now owner Siobhan Barney is looking to turn it into two properties — a one and a two-bed house.
Agents, Planning Insight, said in documents submitted to the Isle of Wight council, extensive consultation has been carried out with the church and local community to find an alternative use for the building that would benefit the village, but none came to fruition.
Mezzanine floors
Both parts of the building will be split by a mezzanine floor to provide bedroom space and in the bigger house a shower room upstairs.
In the smaller property, the proposed shower room will be downstairs.
Both will have a kitchen, dining room and sitting room.
Housing for permanent residents of the village
Planning Insight says the conversion will create “housing for permanent residents of the village who can contribute to the local economy out of season”.
However, it is unclear how this could be guaranteed.
View the plans
You can view the application, 23/00017/FUL, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register.
The public consultation runs until 2nd May.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
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