Demolishing church hall for homes and new hall looks set for approval

Plans to knock down a church hall to build homes and a new hall have been recommended for approval.

The rectangular church hall behind St Peter’s Church, Bushey Mill Lane, Watford, dates back to the 1930s but could soon be demolished and replaced under the planning application submitted in March.

Despite some neighbours’ objections, Watford Borough Council officers have recommended that planning approval should be granted ahead of the deciding committee meeting this time next week (July 10).

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The new church hall would be part single- and part two-storey while the two semi-detached houses would have four bedrooms each.

Parking provision would be reduced from 16 spaces to 14.

Six letters of support were sent in to the council while the seven objection letters claimed the proposed homes would be “overdevelopment” and not in keeping with the area”.

There were also claims that the proposal would have traffic, light, outlook, and overlook issues for neighbours.

St Peter’s Church (hall at the rear). (Image: Google Street View)

However, the report for next week’s meeting judges that the development “would not cause a significant loss of light, outlook or privacy to neighbouring properties”.

It adds: “Furthermore, a good living environment would be provided for future occupiers of the proposed houses.”

The council appeared particularly keen on its contribution to the need for family-sized homes in the borough.