Plans to construct a new place of worship on Knutsford Road will be considered by the Northern Planning Committee next month.
The Trustees of Wilmslow Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses have applied for planning permission for a purpose built meeting hall on the site of the existing Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
The local congregation was first established in 1952, they moved to the Knutsford Road site in 1977 and refurbished the former school in 1980 to use it as a place of worship.
Continual maintenance has been necessary to control dry rot and structural work due to poor foundations and the existing building now requires a full re-roof, repairs to external walls and upgrading of the existing heating and electrics which are about 35 years old.
Additionally, the internal layout no longer meets their requirements as the congregation has grown steadily over the past 60 years and now has a regular attendance of over 100. The lack of support facilities has also proven to be a real problem for the congregation, especially for parents with young children, the disabled and the elderly.
The proposed building will address these issues, enable access for all visitors of the building and meet the needs of an expanding congregation.
According to the planning appplication the budget cost for the repair and refurbishment of the existing building to bring it to a modern standard is £265,000 (excluding professional fees and VAT.) Whilst the budget cost for the demolition and construction of a new purpose built hall on the existing site is £278,000 (excluding professional fees and VAT.)
The proposal to demolish the existing main building and outbuildings and build a new hall in the same location will be considered by the Northern Planning Committee at their meeting on Wednesday 4th May. The planning officer has recommended it for approval because although it lies within the Green Belt it is not considered inappropriate development and would have no additional adverse impact on the openness of the Green Belt in this location.
The planning application, which can be viewed on Cheshire East Council's website by searching for planning reference 14/5667M.
