A former Sunday school building at the rear of a now-disused historic Church in Bath could be turned into eight flats.

The United Reform Church on Argyle Street opened its doors to religious nonconformists in 1890 and remained a place of worship for the next 130 years — until it finally closed in 2020 during the Covid pandemic. Planning permission was recently granted to renovate the church so it could be brought back into use as a community or commercial space, such as “a museum, art gallery or studio.”

Now its owners, Bedstone Developments have also submitted a planning application to Bath and North East Somerset Council to turn the former Sunday school at the rear of the building into eight flats. A Sunday school room was first built in 1844, which has been substantially added to and altered over the years.

A heritage statement submitted with the application said: “The combination of the Victorian and post-war structures have resulted in an incoherent labyrinth of meeting rooms, offices, and performance spaces.”

The plans propose redeveloping this space into eight flats, with four on the ground floor, three on the first floor, and a single larger three-bedroom flat on the second floor. Flats on the ground and first floors will be a mix of one and two bedrooms. The flats would be accessed through the existing 1950s entrance on Grove Street.

A design and access statement submitted with the application said: “The Grade II Listed United Reform Church, alongside its immediate neighbours forms an important link between the City Centre and Great Pulteney Street and its continued use and maintenance is important both locally and nationally.

“A commercial/community use is deemed to be the most appropriate use for the original church building fronting Argyle Street. Conversion to residential use for the remainder of the site is appropriate and achievable without undue alterations and will ensure the continued beneficial use of the building.”

You can view and comment on the plans here.