Objections to church house becoming students' home

A house that has traditionally been occupied by church clergy could become a home for Catholic students at Lancaster University, under a redevelopment plan.

But the proposal has prompted dozens of objections, including concerns about privacy, closeness to a nearby school, traffic problems and anti-social behaviour.

St Bernadette's Parish House, on Bowerham Road, is the focus of a change-of-use application to turn it into a seven-bedroom home of multiple occupancy for students.

It comes as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster makes various changes that include creating a single parish across the area, with the possibility of some church closures.

Lancaster City Council's planning committee is to consider the church house application, which is near to St Bernadette's and Moorside primary schools, at its meeting this month.

A report for councillors said the property was "no longer required to house clergy" and the diocese and parish required "an effective new use to provide income for the upkeep of the site and to sustain the church's mission".

The property would be occupied by "Catholic students recruited and vetted with the Lancaster University chaplaincy", the document said.

But the plans have seen 30 letters of objection submitted, with concerns raised about safeguarding surrounding potential occupiers, possible anti-social behaviour, litter and other uses for the building not being considered.

Other objections included views of the school from the property, emergency access to the educational facility, and parking and road safety.

The planning report said the communal facilities were "inadequate" to accommodate the original application for 10 people, but the facilities were considered "acceptable" for the seven single bedrooms included in the amended plans.

Planning officers recommended councillors approve the application as the property was already in residential use, there was established vegetation screening between the two sites, and no adverse impacts were anticipated with safeguarding or anti-social behaviour.

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