PLANS to convert a small Methodist chapel into a residential dwelling and add an extension to its rear are now back with Shropshire Council.

The proposal is for Coton Methodist church, in Coton – between Whitchurch and Wem – and was submitted to the Shropshire Council on October 27 with an update on Monday, November 6.

The application for the revised scheme, which was withdrawn in August this year, was submitted to the council by Moss.Co. on behalf of Martin Dennis, for the 19th-century building which is not listed but is ’considered a non-designated asset’.

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The planning and access statement said: “The chapel was constructed as a primitive Methodist Chapel in 1888.

“It retains its primary windows, roof, boundary railing and numerous interesting original internal features such as attractive arched stained glass windows, half-timber panelling to certain walls and raised pulpit to one end.

“The chapel is constructed from red orange bricks under a slate roof.

“The rear lean-to is constructed similarly but of a much later date in the mid-20th century.

“The existing chapel floor area is 68m² which is under half the size of an affordable dwelling and therefore too small to provide even a minimal area of reasonable accommodation.

“The later lean-to on the rear is 14m² and the footprint area of the proposed one-and-a-half storey extension contributes a further 71m².

“All in all, this remains a very modest building.”

The statement says that the nearest listed buildings are one mile and 700 metres to the south and north, respectively, and a conversion would have no impact on these properties.

The building, which was also used for Sunday School, was used for Primitivism Methodism – not Wesleyan – also has a graveyard next to it.

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The statement adds that a current war memorial plaque would be repositioned within the building and the pulpit will be repurposed in part of the property, such as the kitchen or stairs.

It added that the existing lean -to to the rear of the chapel will be replaced with a permanent extension.

Anyone wishing to comment on the application can do so by heading to Shropshire Council’s planning portal and sdearching 23/04675/FUL.