A FORMER methodist church may be transformed into a new home, if planning permission is approved by Allerdale Borough Council.

An application has been submitted to the council for full planning permission with change of use from building of worship to domestic dwelling, for the Methodist Church, Main Street in Dearham.

A design and access statement said: "The sandstone-built, former Methodist Church in Dearham came to auction in August 2022 in a poor state of repair and was flooded from surface water in 2015 in the Storm Desmond which caused significant damage to the main hall floor and resulted in recurrent dry rot.

"The dry rot has affected a large area of the timber floor in the main hall area, the majority of which is stripped out to the bare earth. The planning proposal is to convert the church into one single residential dwelling whilst retaining the existing footprint."

The planning proposal is intended 'to improve the local area by renovating a derelict, unused building'.

The applicant said that there are no proposals to change the footprint of the building and there is therefore no significant change to the appearance of the church externally.

The application is now under a consultation process with Allerdale Borough Council, and will be decided on at a later date.

There are no proposal to erect any new or additional buildings on the site.

READ MORE: Bygone days in Dearham