PLANS have been submitted for the conversion of a Malvern church building into houses.

Developers want to change the Holy Mount United Reformed Church into three houses, with planning documents saying it is a suitable site for development.

One of the planning documents says: "Given the fact that Britain has become more secular in the last 50 years there is now a large surplus of Places of Worship for the number of people who are regular attendees of Churches.

"Unlike many other historic buildings they have a number of difficulties which make them unsuitable for modern Christian denominations.

"Many congregations are now based in modern buildings including industrial buildings."

The plans go on to list car parking, maintenance costs, heating costs, lack of light, reduced income and "a desire to use money for good works rather than the development of the church."

Some grants are available from the Heritage Memorial Fund for specific things such as roof repairs to buildings still in use as Churches.

The documents continue: "There are a finite number of Churches which can become “museums or heritage centres” or similar, and indeed it can be argued that there are too many.

"There are many churches in both rural and urban areas going through a process of ruination often simply fenced off to the general public.

"On some sad occasions beautiful Grade I listed Churches are demolished.

"All empty buildings are at risk of architectural and metal theft as well as vandalism and arson.

"There are even active churches which are subject to arson attacks.

"The theft of lead from church roofs is a significant problem.

"In the short term the goal is preventing deterioration or a catastrophic event such as a fire.

"In the longer term the goal has to be preventing demolition and making it worth somebody’s while maintaining the building in the long term.

"Experience has shown that conversion of a church by the private sector to uses other than as dwellings is generally not sustainable in the long term.

The plans have just launched, and can be viewed in full at https://plan.malvernhills.gov.uk/Planning/Display/21/01014/FUL