The former church building is more than 160 years old.
A gothic-style church built in the 1800s could be turned into a house. Plans have been submitted to East Cambridgeshire District Council to turn the former Mission Church of St Andrew in North Street, Burwell, into a house.
The church was built in 1863. It is unknown when it stopped operating as a church, but it was later used as an office.
It has been vacant since 2020 and listed as a Grade II listed building in 2024. The applicant bought the building for its “heritage value”.
The planning application said: “Their intention is to restore, maintain, and enhance its original features while adapting the interior for residential use in a sensitive and minimally invasive manner.” The proposal involves creating an open plan kitchen and dining area from the front porch.
There will then be steps down into a bedroom, utility, and study area. Above, there are two galleries which are proposed to be a bedroom and landing area.
The applicant proposed to keep the “gothic-style” details such as the windows, as well other original features. These also include “prominent landmark chimneys”, “queen post roof trusses”, and “gold-leaf biblical inscriptions on tie beams”.
The applicant added that by changing the former church into a house, it is “ensuring its long-term preservation and continued maintenance through active use”. The plans added that the proposals “protect key heritage features” and “complements the character” of the area.
Walls that surround the building will be kept in order to “preserve the character of the site”. The wall boundary along Silver Street will be repaired and a trellis will be added to it for privacy.