Locks Heath Free Church has bought a new pocket of land from Hampshire County Council which could prove the key in getting planning permission for their controversial £4m extension.
The artist's impression of the original planned new extension at Locks Heath Free Church
An extra 0.4 acres of land alongside the church in Hunts Pond Road has been sold by the county council to allow for more on-site parking. That means they may now be able to go ahead with building a a 500-seat auditorium as part of their expansion plans.
The first planning application was unanimously rejected by Fareham councillors last year. Since then church leaders have been working to submit a tweaked application addressing the reasons for refusal – one of which was not enough on-site parking.
The original plan was to keep the current 88 spaces on site and use an overflow car park 120 metres away, opposite Netley Road, which would have 136 spaces.
Mark Madavan, senior pastor at the church, said the additional land they had just bought could provide for 150 car parking spaces on site – without using the over-flow car park.
“Hampshire has agreed to release some land to help us address the parking issue in the hope it will appease Fareham council’s planning committee.
Senior Minister Mark Madavan in the field alongside Locks Heath Free Church which has been bought for the extension
“We’re trying to find a solution where all the parking is on site. We’re not looking at pursuing the overflow car park.
“Parking would be to the rear of the site away from the road, so you wouldn’t be able to see it from the road.”
Mr Madavan is meeting with his planning team to design some architectural drawings of the new layout.
A public consultation is likely to be held at Locks Heath Free Church in the next two months to show the revised plans.
Mr Madavan remained adamant that new plans would show the auditorium would be for community use and not a conference room for commercial use.
“We’re also going to clarify that we’re a church and not a conference centre,” he said.
“The need for an extension is still pressing, so if we could pursue this option that would be great.”