Mid Norfolk church has rebuild plans approved
A church in Dereham has been granted permission to replace its existing hall with a new, modern building.
Dereham Gospel Hall Trust had its plans to replace its current building unanimously approved yesterday by
Breckland Council’s planning committee.
The current hall, off Bush Lane in Etling Green is no longer fit for purpose and will be demolished to make way for a new, modern building with better facilities and accessibility.
The proposal received much support with one member writing: “The proposed improvements will deliver facilities that are better suited to supporting our family, enabling us to meet with others in the community and practise our faith.”
Councillor Alison Webb, who visited the existing site, said: “It is in quite a state and it’s not welcoming in terms of disability or young people.
Councillors did raise concerns about how the site would fare if the church received an influx of new worshippers due to a Christian revival.
Councillor Gordon Bambridge asked the church: “Suppose you get an influx from these newly enlivened people. Will you turn them away or will you actually grow and how will you deal with that?”
A representative from the church told councillors they “wouldn’t turn anyone away from wanting to come to our gospel preachings” and would “welcome anyone”.
The single-storey replacement hall will be lower than the current structure, use dark cladding to blend into the countryside and include new landscaping to protect the rural setting.
This story originally appeared in the Eastern Daily Press