Plans to convert a historic church into a recording studio have been backed by Sefton council.
The plans submitted by developers 1880 Ltd, based in Burscough include a recording studio and an event space. The site of the development will be at Crossens Methodist Church on Rufford Road in Southport.
The proposal includes the use of the outdoor space at the front of the existing building for community events. The area would be used for events such as Christmas carol singing as well as social and annual gatherings.
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The space will also have a small food and drinks cart outside the building along with a food delivery service. The report by Sefton Council said: "The recording studio and skylights to the roof slope form part of the approved development secured under the 2021 permission. This included noise control measures to protect nearby residents from significant harm.
"The food delivery service would be incorporated into the ground floor of the existing building. There will be no on-site pick-up and delivery hours can be controlled by condition to ensure no significant harm to neighbouring properties.
“The proposal includes the use of the outdoor space to the front of the existing building for community events. The applicant has referenced that the space would be used for matters such as Christmas carol singing as well as social events and annual gatherings.
“This space would not require the installation of any permanent features or infrastructure, and it is intended that events would be served by a small food/drinks cart."
Crossens Methodist Chapel was originally a Free United chapel built-in 1879-80. It became part of the Southport Circuit of the Liverpool District of Methodist Churches.
The report read: "The building is considered to be a Non-Designated Heritage Asset. The proposed development does not propose any significant external changes and the Council’s Conservation Officer has no objection to the development.
"The proposed development would not divert significantly from that already approved (2021 permission) and implemented at the site. The development is small in scale and subject to appropriate conditions, it would not have an unacceptable impact on the living conditions of occupiers of neighbouring properties and would not be harmful to the character of the residential area."
