A former church on the Isle of Wight could be turned into houses, 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. 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 that 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.
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.
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.
You can view the application, 23/00017/FUL, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 2nd May.
Converting into houses should not be an option , it’s totally the opposite of the churches purpose in the first instance ,and for such a building to be allowed by planning to be converted is a disgrace .
Homing the homeless is against the churches purpose? Really?
Well… Yes
Surely it’s better than leaving it to fall apart. It will be loved and the outside will stay the same in keeping with the village. Churches just aren’t used so much now and they have updated places of worship.
Ew more houses. We had enough after mine was built.