Plans submitted for town's historic 19th century church school room to switch uses

Investment Street, a Northamptonshire property company based in the south of the county, is seeking permission to change the use of the former United Reformed Church School Hall, that backs onto Meeting Lane, (Class F1) to commercial, business and service use (Class E).

The application site is located adjacent to the former Rothwell United Reformed Church, a Grade II-listed building. While the School Hall itself is not designated, it forms part of the wider historic group and contributes to the setting of the listed church.

Comments by three local residents have raised concerns that the switch of use would increase ‘pedestrian footfall or activity’ near their homes and ‘would materially affect amenity, privacy, and the quiet enjoyment of the grounds’ of the former church complex.

One resident said: “It would also raise concerns around safety and conflict between residential and non-residential users.”

Another cited incompatible intensification of use saying: “The proposed Class E use risks introducing activities, signage, noise, lighting, footfall or vehicular movements that erode the architectural and historic setting of the Grade II building. “Class F1 is typically low intensity use, whereas Class E allows a wide range of potentially high intensity commercial uses from retail and offices to cafés and medical services. A shift to Class E creates a risk of materially greater activity levels, traffic, servicing, and disturbance. This is incompatible with the quiet, culturally sensitive environment expected within the curtilage of a nationally important heritage asset, especially one that is situated in a residential area.”

The resident added: “Parking on Fox Street, Evison Road and Meeting Lane is already significantly restricted and at a premium for the existing residential properties.

"As the property provides, at best, two off-site parking spaces, the increase in traffic and the congestion cannot be justified. Furthermore, the additional volume of traffic will inevitably result in conflict with the existing properties on Meeting Lane due to inconsiderate and unlawful parking. This will also be the case with vehicles that unlawfully park on the grounds of the Former United Reformed Church, resulting in aggressive confrontations and an increase in antisocial behaviour.”

The developer has said no external alterations are proposed other than ‘minor cosmetic improvements to improve the visual appearance of the building’ as part of the current submission with ‘no internal alterations‘ required at this stage.

It concludes: “The proposal makes effective use of a vacant and underutilised building, secures a flexible and viable future use, preserves the character and appearance of the building, causes no harm to the setting of the adjacent Grade II listed church and benefits from a sustainable and accessible location.

“Any future internal works required to accommodate specific Class E uses would be subject to separate consent where necessary and designed to respect the existing building."

To see the full plans go to NNC’s planning portal and search for 25/01910/FUL.