Christchurch Town Council object to changes in church plans

The comments were made during a meeting of Christchurch Town Council’s planning and regulatory committee, with members concerned about proposed changes to the scheme.

As reported, Christchurch Baptist Church has planning permission to build a new place of worship at 51 Bargates, next door to its existing church at 49 Bargates.

Church Minister Rev Chris Brockway previously said the new two-storey church will be larger and host the “majority” of services.

In May, Christchurch Baptist Church submitted an application to BCP Council, requesting a variation to conditions of the approved plans.

The applicant specifically wanted to make ‘minor variations’ from an air conditioned design to a natural ventilation strategy.

Christchurch Town Council’s planning and regulatory committee discussed the proposed changes at its meeting on Tuesday, July 16.

The minutes of the meeting said: “A member noted the change from active air conditioning in the previous plan to slightly higher passive air conditioning in the new plan.

CGI of proposed main meeting space in the new church (Image: DUA Architecture)

“They highlighted that the new plan did not mention any environmental benefits, such as reducing the building's carbon footprint, to justify the changes.

“Members felt that the new plan appeared more oppressive and ominous without any explanation for the modifications.”

Also at the meeting, town councillors expressed concerns the new church would ‘significantly affect’ the properties along Beaconsfield Road, and its modern, contemporary design would have an ‘overwhelming impact on the street's character’.

It was resolved Christchurch Town Council would object to the minor variation application ‘on the grounds of insufficient information to clarify the reasons behind the changes, as well as the increase in the building bulk’.

Christchurch Baptist Church first purchased 51 Bargates in 2016, and was granted planning permission to build at the site in June 2023.

In video to worshipers in April of this year, Rev Brockway said: “We’ve reached the stage where we have sufficient cash reserves to secure a loan with the Baptist Union to fund the balance of the build costs, which we estimate will be in the region of about £2.4 million.

"We are ready to start building.”

However, he said the church was short of the unnecessary monthly pledges to be able to maintain the repayments for the loan, and encouraged people to make financial donations to the project.