Church could be demolished for care home

A church in Herefordshire could be demolished and replaced by a 52-bed care home under plans submitted in a planning application.

The future of St Barnabas Church on Venns Lane in Hereford, which opened in 1983, is to be discussed by Herefordshire Council's planning committee next week.

The plans have been put forward by Worcester-based Heritage Manor Ltd, which already operates the neighbouring Newstead House nursing home, and would share staff with the new facility.

Herefordshire Council's housing development officer said there was "a vast need" in the city for care bed spaces.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board said the "patient growth" would result in extra demands on local primary healthcare, towards which the developer should contribute £21,600.

There have been 13 public objections to the proposals, mostly related to complaints of overdevelopment of the site, along with traffic and parking issues.

But a county highways engineer said the proposed parking arrangements were acceptable, adding: "While the layout is not the most convenient, sufficient spaces are provided and their dimensions meet the required standards."

Hereford City Council also did not object.

County council planning officer Heather Carlisle has recommended the scheme for approval.

In her report she explained the church was "no longer needed by the parish" and had been declared closed for regular public worship in June 2019.

It was later leased to Oasis Church, an independent evangelical church, but only until July 2024, and since then it had remained empty.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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