Caerphilly County Borough Council’s planning panel sanctioned plans to convert a Deri place of worship into two homes.

David Neade put forward the proposal to create two family residences within the vacant St Peter’s Church on School Street.

Information submitted to the local authority shows one property will occupy the main worship area, which will be altered to include three bedrooms and two reception rooms.

The second home, also with three bedrooms, is intended for the annex connected to the primary structure.

Local planning rules generally only allow the removal of community amenities when applicants either provide a comparable replacement or prove the facility is no longer necessary.

Council caseworkers concluded the chapel shut its doors in early 2023 because it had become redundant as congregation numbers dwindled.

The property stayed on the market until mid-2025, and during this span no commercial or community parties expressed interest, according to their evaluation. They added that another religious venue operates in Deri near the proposed development.

During the recent public feedback window, Caerphilly County Borough Council did not receive any objections to the project.

Planning officers granted approval with stipulations, demanding that an appropriate historic building survey and analysis be undertaken on the structure, which carries architectural and cultural importance.