Former chapel near Alton Towers in Staffordhire to become a holiday let

The proposals would see the disused Primitive Methodist Church in Alton, near Alton Towers in Staffordshire, refurbished into a one-bedroom property and offered to tourists for short stays.

A planning application to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has attracted 16 objections from residents as well as Alton Parish Council, who raise concerns over the lack of on-site parking and the potential impact on nearby streets. Objectors are also concerned about the growing number of holiday lets in Alton and the impact this is having on the character of the village.

But the application has been recommended for approval by planning officers, who say the plans accord with council policy. The church, which dates back to 1826, closed a few years ago due to falling attendances and was sold in 2023.

Under the proposals, the church’s windows and doors would be replaced, with a bathroom, toilet and open plan living area and kitchen on the ground floor. A mezzanine floor would be created to provide a bedroom.

There is no parking at the church, so visitors staying at the property would be expected to park in nearby streets. Objectors say this will add to existing congestion in the village, and point out there are already at least 15 holiday lets within 300 metres of the church.

Alton resident Sue Green states: “We are in danger of the village becoming saturated with tourists in the summer season and empty properties in the winter. This results particularly in there being less children at the village school, which in the long term will make it non-viable, and reduces the community spirit.

“These properties all require parking – especially overnight and in this case it will be on-road parking suggested as Malthouse Road, causing yet more congestion.”

But highways officers at Staffordshire County Council have raised no objections to the application, and the report to the planning committee notes that when the building was in use as a church, visitors would have parked in nearby streets. Planning officers also say that the local plan supports the creation of more holiday accommodation to support the tourist industry.

The report states: “The change of use of the chapel building to holiday-let accommodation is acceptable in principal. Local plan policies are complied with in respect of tourist accommodation and loss of community facilities. It has also been demonstrated that the proposal is acceptable in terms of design, heritage, visual impact, amenity and highways.”

Planning committee members will consider the application when they meet on May 22.