Plans to change use of St Stephens Church, on Fosse Road, Brough, approved by Newark and Sherwood District Council

A Grade Two listed church that hasn’t been used in over 40 years is to be transformed into a three-bed home.

Newark and Sherwood District Council planning committee approved the plans submitted by the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham on Thursday (January 16).

The application is to change the use of the Victorian-built St Stephen’s Church, on Fosse Road, Brough and add an extension.

The church has not been used by a congregation for many years, but is still classified as a place of worship.

The proposed extension would be brick and clay tile, to correspond with the brick construction of the church. Other proposed external changes are three roof lights, a bat box, new oak-framed doors, and three windows with stone surrounds.

Mature trees heavily shield the site from Fosse Road.

The extension would house one bedroom, while the other two would be in and above the existing chancel, where a second floor would be created. A family bathroom and en-suite would also be included in the chancel area.

The existing nave would remain double height, and contain an open plan kitchen, living, and dining room. Three stained glass windows would be removed.

The porch is proposed to remain as the main entrance to the house, while the vestry would become a rear lobby.

There is currently no vehicular access to the site, and a new three-car driveway is proposed with access from Fosse Road through a line of mature trees.

Martin Cooper, the chief executive of the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham said at the meeting that the church, which served for over 100 years, closed down in 1986 at the request of the local parochial church council.

It was used for storage for a few years until its use was no longer required, leaving it empty and closed.

He added: “Having explored a variety of alternative uses, we believe residential use to be the only viable use to secure its long-term future.

“We believe our proposals are sensitive to the historic fabric of the building, recognising that some degree of compromise is required when converting a Victorian church into a house fit for use in the 21st century.”

He said that the original plans had been modified from the original proposal to result in less substantive harm to the significance of the building as a designed heritage asset after feedback from planning officers in Historic England.

After a site visit to the church, Penny Rainbow said: “It was a very sad sight visit — to see a church in that state was quite painful and I feel a little embarrassed that we as a district and the church have left it to get into such a state, and I understand these things happen.

“There’s a balance between preservation and renovation, and reading the report I was minded not to support this, however, if not this then what?

“I think the building needs and deserves to be saved, and I don’t have a problem with the contrast of the old and new and if that is what is going to take to the building back in use then ok.”

Emma Oldham said that she supports the application, and the contrast between old and new as it is more sustainable than building new properties from scratch, however mentioned her concerns about the lack of footpaths on the premises.

Ward member Linda Dales raised some of the Collingam Parish Council's main concerns as damage to the building’s archaeology, the loss of three stained glass windows, and changes to the interior of the building.

She believes that the parish council should have the opportunity to visit the site in order to understand the need for the project.

The parish council unanimously objected to the application in November 2024.

“They [Collingham Parish Council] raised some genuine concerns about protecting the integrity of the building and I think there can be no doubt I agree with the conversation officer that this scheme is harmful to the Grade Two listed building,” she said.

“It results in a high degree of harm to the special interest in the setting of the listed building — however, we have to weigh against the principle of conversion which is acceptable.

“The building is structurally sound and none of us want it to fall down.”

Tim Wildgust added: “What are your alternatives? You either leave it and it decays and falls down or we try to preserve things.”

The planning applications have been approved by the planning committee.