An iconic listed Anglican church based in the middle of a roundabout in a Swansea suburb is to get a much-needed new lease of life.
St Johns Church, affectionately known locally as ‘the church in the middle of the road’, is a vacant Grade II Listed Anglican church based off Morfydd Street in Morriston , and is a landmark to the area.
The building was last used as a place of worship in the 1990s, before closing and remains vacant to this day.
Andrew Shipley, of ADI Design, has now stepped forward with plans to breathe new life into the historic building.
He wants to transform the old church into an unlicensed cafe, gallery and office at the ground floor level, and three live-in work units to the upper floors.
He also hopes to landscape part of the roundabout to create an area for tables and chairs.
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He writes in his application: "This large and attractive historic building has played an important part in the lives of many local residents and is currently at risk unless an alternative and sustainable use is found.
"Far too many historic buildings of local significance are left to fall into disrepair or worse still subject to vandalism or arson and then are subsequently demolished and lost forever.
"This is a building viewed by many locals with affection and finding a new sustainable use means it is retained for the community and provides a novel use not currently available in the area."
The application has been a long time in the making, as it was first submitted with Swansea Council in June 2007, but the application has now been validated as of February this year.
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And Mr Shipley insists the work is set to take place imminently.
He told WalesOnline: "It is definitely going to happen, it will be nice to bring it back into life.
"It's exciting, it is an iconic building and we hope to have the work done within 12 to 18 months.
"There's going to be a cafe, gallery and office and live-in work units and we're planning to landscape part of the roundabout and put tables and chairs there.
"It is in the middle of a roundabout, but it is safer crossing there than it is on Woodfield Street."
Councillor for the Morriston area, Andrea Lewis supported the plans.
She said: "St Johns Church is a historic landmark and it's hugely important we restore it. If we don't do something it's going to fall into significant disrepair.
"It would be hugely welcomed and as Morriston councillors we fully support the plans.
"These plans have been ongoing for some time and they can't come soon enough."
The application states the old church has been identified as a ‘building at risk’ by Swansea Council, underlying the need for a new sustainable use to be found.
In April 2016, we reported how an Iceland lorry crashed into the church after the driver was taken ill at the wheel.
Swansea Council's planning department is considering the plans.
