We were instructed by Clifton Hill Gospel Hall Trust to support a detailed planning application for the change of use of an existing residential property to a Place of Worship and a corner infill extension.

Clifton Hill Gospel Hall Trust is a registered a Charity and provides Christian Places of Public Religious Worship. They also offer public preaching of the Gospel during weekdays where free Gospel Tracts and literature are handed out. The Trust was originally based on Clifton Road, Wallington in the London Borough of Sutton but due to the migration of the congregation further south into Banstead and North Surrey, the previous Hall was sold as they looked for new premises to accommodate their congregation.

The site is located within a sustainable location and is set within an area that would be appropriate to house a Place of Worship.

The proposal was carefully designed to ensure the demolition respected the character and appearance of the surrounding area and mitigated the impact on the metropolitan green belt (MGB) amongst other considerations.

The proposed development sought to convert an existing detached dwelling into a Place of Worship with a capacity for 50 people, meeting twice a week.

To accommodate this change of use, alongside the small-scale extension, alterations were proposed to the entrance and to several window placements. The entrance on the front elevation would be removed and a new entrance on the side elevation. The existing chimneys were to be removed from the floor plan, so it complied with the churches’ design standards. Several internal alterations would create a larger meeting room, and the driveway was designed to provide for cycling space and additional parking.