A new church could be built on a greenfield site in Blunsdon after the plans by the Plymouth Brethren Church have been recommended for approval.

The church wants to build a single-storey Gospel Hall on the site south of Broad Blunsdon directly opposite the junction of the road with Beech Lea.

And along with the building with a single pitched roof, the church is looking for permission for 160 parking spaces- suggesting the building will be able to hold at least 300 people at a time.

The proposed Gospel Hall would be modest in scale and no higher than two-storeys, in order that the character of the development is rural rather than urban, and consistent with the location of the site."

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It adds that the simple barn-like appearance of the building is deliberate: “The design of the proposed Gospel Hall is influenced by simple modern agricultural buildings so as to blend into the character and setting of the application site.”

The application continues: “The Gospel Hall site is laid out in order that the hall can face the main road with its gable end, this being one of the shortest elevations of the building. The longer east elevation would sit alongside the tall backdrop of existing trees forming the west boundary.

“Vehicular access into the site would meander past the east elevation of the hall and would then split into several curving access points for the car parking, mainly out of sight from the main road.”

This application originally included a proposal to have three self-build plots for  houses as well but that  has been removed after discussion with  the council’s planning officers, and originally there was a linked application to build a 60-bed care home  on the wider site that has since been withdrawn.”

The plan has been opposed by Blunsdon Parish Council and that authority asked it to be considered by the borough planning committee.

Members will be advised to approve the plan, despite the parish council’s objections and several by residents, and even one from the council’s own urban design officer.

The report says: “The proposal will mainly cover the catchment area of Highworth and Blunsdon, which will reduce the traffic flow of those living in this area to the other existing places of worship, but it will undoubtedly result in more local traffic, albeit off-peak.”

The planning committee meeting will begin at 6pm on Tuesday February 14 at the Civic offices in Euclid Street. Members of the public are entitled to attend.