Furniture business plan for former town church
Final service of thanksgiving for St John’s was held in March 2020 before it closed
A FORMER church in Leek could become a furniture business’ new home if plans are approved by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.
St John’s Church in Belle Vue Road dates back to 1875, but parishioners had to move out in 2018 due to ongoing heating issues in the building.
The church was permanently closed in 2020 and the congregation moved to the nearby St Edward’s Church. A final service of thanksgiving at St John’s took place in March that year - just days before the country was plunged into the first national lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Now plans have come forward to change the church into a joinery workshop and showroom. A design and access statement submitted as part of the planning application to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council said: “This adaptive reuse of the building provides a genuine opportunity to provide an economic reuse for the building which will provide vitality and viability to the town whilst preserving its architectural and historic significance.
“The applicant, George Frederick Cabinet Makers, are an independent and family run business which has been established since 2005. Specialising in bespoke kitchens and furniture they have a team of highly experienced craftsman, skilled in a mix of traditional and modern cabinet making skills, hand painting and finishing and currently operate from a site within the town.
“The existing business currently employees seven full time staff, all of which walk or cycle to work. The proposed development would allow the business to relocate from rented to owned premises, thus providing the business with greater certainty at a time of economic uncertainty.
“It is not anticipated that the proposed development would result in any intensification of the business or generate any further jobs at this stage. No external alterations are proposed and the only internal alteration is limited to the removal of the existing church organ.”