The transformation of an old Swansea church sat in middle of a busy roundabout is officially underway, as scaffolding surrounds its landmark structure.
Swansea Council gave the go-ahead to Andrew Shipley, of ADI Design, to revamp St John's Church in Morriston to become a cafe, gallery and commercial unit on the ground and mezzanine floors, with three loft apartment-style flats above back in February this year.
Affectionately known locally as ‘the church in the middle of the road’, the vacant Grade II Listed Anglican church based off Morfydd Street is a landmark to the area, and the building was last used as a place of worship in the 1990s, before closing and remaining vacant.
And now a new chapter looms for the old building, as scaffolding has surrounded the building and works are well-underway inside.
"We are a good way through," Mr Shipley said.
"The whole building is a listed building which has got to be repaired.
"We've got scaffolding up at the moment because there are problems with the roof which need to be addressed."
Mr Shipley bought the building 15 years ago and initially wanted to turn it into six flats. He then submitted a planning application to Swansea council for the current scheme, but it has taken more than 10 years of discussions and tweaks to gain planning consent.
Mr Shipley envisaged an independent cafe and gallery, with an adjacent business centre alongside providing desk space, a meeting room, and computers and printers.
Two of the flats on the upper floors will have two bedrooms, the other will have one bedroom.
The scheme had led to several objections, including about parking issues in the vicinity. One of the planning conditions is that occupiers of the three flats cannot obtain a resident's parking permit for any controlled parking zone in the area.
Concerns were also raised about air quality, but planning officers said the church was not in a designated air quality management area and that there would not be "material health impacts" on future occupiers.
