Cheers and clapping filled the air as the go-ahead for a £4m extension at Locks Heath Free Church was announced at a Fareham Council planning committee today (September 24).
It has been three years in the planning – and still two years to go before it can be up and running – but worshippers at the Titchfield Common church breathed sighs of relief at the unanimous decision.
The graphic impression of the Locks heath Free Church planned extension including the extra on-site car parking to the right
Around 50 people crammed into the gallery at the planning meeting to hear the discussion on the new 400-seat worship area with activity room.
“I’m very pleased,” said Mark Madavan, senior minister, at the church, following the decision.
“I was very pleased that the councillors were positive about what we do and the impact we’re making in the community and they see that the building is part of reaching out to the community.
“It has been a long journey to be here. We need to stop and breathe. We’d love to do it as early as possible – we need it now. But we’ll be looking at fundraising and applying for different grants and when we have most of the money we can begin the building work.
“It’s a 12 to 18 month build, so we won’t be moving into it for about two years.
“We encouraged our members to come and support us. A lot of people took time off work because they really believe in it because we’re passionate about our community.”
Senior Minister Mark Madavan in the field alongside Locks Heath Free Church which has been bought for the extension
There were 41 letters of objection, a petition with 224 signatures and two members of the community made deputations against the application.
Residents speaking at the meeting said the size of the building made it “overbearing and intrusive” to people living nearby or that it would be detrimental to the area and other community venues. They also were worried about the potential for an increase in noise and traffic levels along the notoriously busy road and feared the extension would be used as a commercial venture.
But councillors commended the church on its new plans and agreed it addressed the issues that had led to an original plan being refused – the size of the building, not enough car parking spaces and concern that it could be used for commercial purposes.
Titchfield Common ward councillor Sarah Pankhurst told the committee: “I’ve personally witnessed a fabulous meeting place for the worship of God.
“There are people from babies, toddlers and youth to old aged pensioners that use it and they get a positive experience from the church. I believe the church has done its utmost to negotiate with the panel and the officers to try and form a more pleasing site for all of Titchfield Common.
“I don’t believe it will negate the other community centres as its staff that work there are pretty qualified to help with problems in a modern society.
“It’s unusual in these days in society to see a church booming.”
Councillor Connie Hockley, who oversees leisure services for the borough, added that the council previously had plans to earmark it as site for a new school, which would have meant a lot of noise from the children and an even bulkier building.
As part of the permission a section 106 agreement will ensure that the church’s existing or new building will not be used commercially and will be restricted to community use only.
A noise limiter – similar to those used at nightclubs which will set a limit on the number of decibels and which will be determined by Environmental Health Officers – will have to be put in place as a condition on the planning approval.
While council officers originally wanted restrictions on the times that a coffee shop in the church could be used – restricting it to times only when there were church activities – councillors overruled them and said the coffee shop could open at any time.