Church to be replaced by mental health unit
ADISUSED church is to be knocked down and replaced by a residential facility for specialist mental health care.
Planning permission has been granted for the demolition of the former Christ the Servant Church building in Digmoor, Skelmersdale.
The church community moved to a building in Birkrig in 2015 and the old building has remained unused since then.
In its place, 10 secure one-bedroom units will be built within a building which will also house staff facilities and communal sensory rooms.
According the application, the poor state of the current building means it is both unattractive as a refurbishment project and in terms of its appearance to neighbours.
It states: “This development proposal facilitates the provision of muchneeded specialist residential mental health care within Skelmersdale and makes a respectful contribution to the character of the local area.
“[The building] has been vacant and unmanaged for some time, due partly because of its current condition and the prohibitive costs associated with bringing the building up to an acceptable standard for a sustainable use.”
The facility will be designed to fit into its surroundings but to also act as a screen from the neighbouring homes, in part to avoid overstimulating the residents.
The application adds: “The site is ideally located to accommodate a facility of this nature. It is highly accessible yet quite secluded, being virtually hidden from public view thanks to the existing mature trees and vegetation to the west and east boundaries.
“This level of privacy and screening, enhanced via the inclusion of additional trees and landscaping, would be of great benefit to the future resi