A CHURCH dating back more than 300 years will be transformed into a family home.
The sale of Whittingehame Parish Church was already confirmed subject to developers being given planning permission by East Lothian Council.
Now, Joseph Radford has been given the green light to create a three-bedroom home in the building.
Three members of the public contacted the council about the proposals, with each backing the principle of converting the historic building.
However, one person raised concerns that there was not “sufficient detail” of how the development would affect “the fabric and character of the building”, with further concerns about “the impact of the proposals should extend to the churchyard where there are some late-17th-century headstones”.
The council’s planning department felt that there were “sufficient details” and noted that the proposals did not include a change of use of the graveyard.
The remaining two letters felt that the designs were “a sympathetic and sensitive use” of the building, which had not been used as a church in more than three years, and were pleased it meant that the building “does not deteriorate further or become a ruin”.
A design and access statement included with the application said that the Church of Scotland had deemed the building to be “surplus to their requirements”.
It added that the developer had history in working in transforming other historic buildings.
It reads: “Mr Radford is seeking to convert the church into a family home with modest accommodation for his young family.
“He has had substantial prior involvement in the conversion and preservation of historic and culturally significant buildings; notably the premises of his family restaurant Timberyard housed in a 19th-century former costume warehouse; and his childhood familial home in the category B listed Clapperfield in Edinburgh, designed by architect Stuart Renton.
“The completion of the sale transaction of Whittingehame Parish Church is conditioned on gaining both planning permission and listed building consent for the conversion of the building into a dwelling.
“Both the purchaser and the seller recognise that there are particular sensitivities and challenges with respect to the conversion of Whittingehame Parish Church, in particular owing to its listed status, lack of sewerage or modern services and the surrounding burial grounds which remain in the ownership of East Lothian Council.”
The T-shaped church, which has not been used since it was originally put on the market in 2020, was constructed in 1722 with substantial additional works undertaken through the 18th century.
Under the proposals, the pews and the raised floor around the pulpit would be removed. The downstairs would remain open plan with a reception, dining, kitchen and living area, while three bedrooms would be created upstairs alongside a study.
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