Housing plan for church grounds
A CHURCH in Widnes could be demolished and a presbytery converted to a children’s nursery after plans were drawn up.
Halton Borough Council has received proposals concerning St Pius X Church on Sefton Avenue.
The plans from Little Acorns Group Ltd envisage knocking down the existing church and link buildings, presbytery outrigger and garage.
The plans also outline converting the presbytery into a children’s nursery and building seven homes at the site.
A design and access statement submitted as part of the application said the presbytery has a second entrance off Birchfield Road which has not been used for ‘some years’ and that the church hall if of ‘typical 1950s/1960s style’.
The proposed nursery in the converted presbytery would be for a range of children’s age groups including from newborns to one-year-olds, two and three-year-olds, as well as youngsters aged between three and four and above.
The statement said the presbytery was ‘probably developed’ in the early 19th century and is likely to be one of the oldest buildings in the ‘immediate locality’. ●
It said: “The site is currently divided into three sections.
“Firstly the church, accessed off Sefton Avenue, secondly the presbytery accessed off Birchfield Road and thirdly the land to the north of the presbytery that fronts onto Birchfield Road but is accessed currently, for maintenance only, from the side of the presbytery.”
Two pairs of semi-detached homes would be built on the former church site and accessed off Sefton Avenue. A further pair of semi-detached houses and a detached home would be constructed on a former grassed area facing Birchfield Road.