Listed church returns to being place of worship

A church dating back to the 1860s can once again officially be used as a place of worship, after plans were approved by Bradford Council.

In 2012, the council approved a planning application to convert the ground floor of the Grade II listed Wesleyan Reformed Church on Manor Lane in Shipley into a children's play centre.

Since the play centre's closure last December, the ground floor has been used for worship by the Christian Life Church, which occupies the rest of the building.

But that happened while the ground floor still had planning permission for a play centre, not a place of worship - and the organisation had to apply retrospectively to change its use.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Nigel Fawcett-Jones submitted the application for the change of use earlier this year, which has now been approved by planning officers.

Conservation officer Hannah Meekings said: "The application site comprises of the former Wesleyan Reformed Church, built around 1863 in ashlar stone with a Welsh slate roof.

"The property is Grade II listed and is located within the buffer zone of Saltaire World Heritage Site.

"There are no internal or external alterations proposed.

"On this basis, we are supportive of the proposal, which will return the heritage asset back to its original use."

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