Christchurch Baptist Church given green light for new bigger building

PLANS by Christchurch Baptist Church to replace its current building with a bigger one have been approved despite opposition by local residents and conservation experts.

The existing Victorian church at the junction with Beaconsfield Road is locally listed, and was said by planning officers to be an “attractive and distinctive” building.

But speaking at BCP Council’s planning committee, which voted to give it the go-ahead, church minister the Rev. Chris Brockway said it was “no longer fit for purpose”.

“The proposed building has been designed to be fully accessible, energy efficient and environmentally responsible,” he said.

The application prompted 67 objections from locals, with most raising concerns over the loss of the the existing 20-space car park.

With room in the new two-storey building to accommodate 257 worshippers, it was estimated around 100 vehicles could end up parking in the vicinity.

An officer’s report argued there were sufficient spaces at nearby public car parks.

But Charles Shepherd, an architect and resident of Beaconsfield Road, told the committee many would not use those and instead park on surrounding streets.

“What I find strange is that there is no disabled parking provision,” he said.

Cllr Peter Hall, representing Christchurch Town, said he had been approached by many residents opposed to the development.

“The main issue is parking, and that’s compounded by the fact this is a very narrow road,” he said. “And this is a very overbearing building. It’s not the church people want to see there.”

Opposition also came from the council’s conservation team, which said the proposed building was “overly obtrusive and dominant in terms of scale”.

Coupled with the scheme’s “inappropriate design”, they said it would harm the character and appearance of the neighbouring conservation area and its listed buildings.

But planning officers recommended the plan be approved, pointing out it was “far better” than a previous larger scheme that was refused and later blocked on appeal.

A committee report stated: “Overall the scale, site coverage, design and detailing of the new building is appropriate for this town centre location and adequately respects the scale and appearance of buildings along Bargates and Beaconsfield Road.”

Committee chair Cllr David Kelsey said it was not uncommon for church buildings to be at odds with their surroundings.

“I rarely see a church that is in keeping with the rest of the street,” he said.

“Churches are renowned for looking different and I don’t see it causes any problems from a conservation point of view.”