A bid to turn a vacant place of worship in Rhymney into a pair of residential units has been met with scepticism by local planning officials, who stated the scheme does not adequately acknowledge the structure’s historical context.
Developer Zac Bowdich had put forward plans to enlarge and repurpose Emmanuel Baptist Church situated at Thomas Fields, which has reportedly stood empty for two years.
Both proposed dwellings would feature a living area, kitchen, dining space and lavatory on the lower level, with three bedrooms and a bathroom on the upper floor.
In their assessment, officers from Caerphilly County Borough Council did not object to the principle of redeveloping the chapel, pointing out that six additional churches or chapels exist within a two-kilometre radius of the location.
They also acknowledged that the property had ceased functioning as a venue for worship and had been advertised at auction as being in a state of disrepair requiring comprehensive restoration work.
The authority’s heritage specialist, Peter Thomas, objected to the scheme on grounds that it would undermine the structure’s recognisable local importance and reduce its positive effect on the visual quality of the neighbourhood.
Planners highlighted that the scheme would entail substantial modifications to the exterior, including considerable adjustments to window openings and a new noticeable addition to the roofline.
According to their assessment, these combined works would fundamentally change the building’s straightforward, functional design and eliminate the remaining qualities that identify it as a former chapel.
Regarding the roof addition specifically, officials noted that the proposed structure would not match the existing chapel’s roof, with window openings of inconsistent dimensions that would not align with those on the floor below.
This would create an artificial domestic look that fails to honour the building’s austere architectural style, the planning team concluded.
Mr Thomas called for a more cautious approach to the development, proposing limited changes that he stated would more effectively maintain the structure’s remaining character while still enabling its conversion to residential use.
The planning officers endorsed this view but cautioned that modifying the proposed windows could subsequently create privacy and overlooking problems.
They indicated that an acceptable scheme for the property would need to reconcile both aesthetic and residential amenity considerations.
However, officials also cautioned that should it become clear that a sensitive conversion to residential use cannot be achieved, it may ultimately be determined that the site’s inherent limitations mean the building cannot reasonably accommodate two homes without causing unacceptable harm.