CHRISTCHURCH Town Council has recanted its concerns over designs for a new church.

The town council’s planning committee now agree the proposed changes to Christchurch Baptist Church’s scheme ‘are relatively minor’.

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.

In May, the 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 objected to the changes, with the planning committee complaining ‘the new plan appeared more oppressive and ominous without any explanation for the modification’.

In response to the council's concerns, more information was submitted, including an explanation of the changes, clarification of the natural ventilation strategy, a quantified carbon reduction plan, and relevant supporting policies.

The new information was reviewed at the planning committee meeting on September 10.

Members agreed that the proposed changes were ‘relatively minor and aimed at improving the building's energy efficiency’.

It was resolved that Christchurch Town Council would withdraw its previous objection.