OBJECTIONS were raised to the possibility of end-of-terrace student accommodation becoming a church office.
They arose at 10 Lorne Street where the change of use was sought by the Northgate Church.
The church has been occupying Fountains Buildings, owned by the city council, as its administrative arm, Chester’s planning board was told in a report.
The lease had expired due to regeneration plans for the site including offices and an hotel.
The church owned 10 Lorne Street, originally a dwelling, which was operated and managed as student accommodation by the University of Chester.
The offices would be used by two full time and one part time member of staff plus two full time and two part time church elders.
Small meetings would also take place.
The owners of 8 Lorne Street, Mr A and Mrs J A Parente, told the city council they felt it would not be suitable for the property to change to an office. There would be “a lot more comings and goings” with a constant stream of people in and out.
A number of occupiers in Lorne Street argued a substantial dwelling house would be lost for the foreseeable future.
The offices would support the community role of the church and its activities, councillors were told.
As well as holding services, the church was well located to serve the student population and provided facilities throughout the week for children and young people.
Recommending the application should be approved, planning officers said the use of the property as offices associated with the church would be appropriate.
Planning chairman Cllr Andrew Storrar (Con, Saughall) said: “I do not see any problem if it is personal to the church.”
After Boughton Heath Cllr Jim Latham (Lib Dem) had suggested that concerns about parking were “extremely alarmist”, approval was granted.
