A two-storey extension on the side of a 13th century village church has been granted planning permission despite being described as “looking like an Aldi supermarket” by an objector.
The extension on the northern side of the grade II* listed St Margaret’s Church, in Rottingdean, will include accessible toilets, a modern kitchen, buggy storage and shower facilities on the ground floor.
A lift will take visitors to first-floor meeting rooms and a gallery. The proposed extension would be next to one built in 1974.
The plans are for a flint-clad building, with a red tiled roof, matching the main church building.
Councillors unanimously backed the scheme at a meeting of Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee after hearing from the vicar, the Rev Anthony Moore, and a neighbour Erica Partridge.
After the plans were submitted, 36 objections were lodged and 26 comments in support. Objectors’ concerns included the effect of the extension on stained glass windows by the artist Edward Burne-Jones.
Mrs Partridge, whose home in the grade II listed Tudor Close faces St Margaret’s, spoke for those objecting to the plans at the meeting at Hove Town Hall yesterday (Wednesday 3 April).
She said: “This disfiguring large extension will harm forever the listed church. It’s 11th century north wall (and) the two Burne-Jones windows are of outstanding significance.
“Its mass will dominate, amputating the beautiful 11th century wall for the viewing public forever.
“The large floor-to-ceiling ugly modern aluminium windows are not in keeping with the amenity of the 53 listed structures in our conservation area.
“The extension looks more like an Aldi supermarket or a public toilet and it violates our newly ratified neighbourhood plan’s strict criteria as it neither preserves nor enhances the area.”
Mr Moore, who has been the vicar of Rottingdean for seven years, said that the church was a registered charity and the trustees were responsible for managing the property.
He said: “We have reached a very satisfactory compromise solution which will serve our needs well while maintaining the dignity and beauty of our historic church bulding, allowing us to flourish as a church congregation and better serve the wider community.
“As Easter Sunday just gone proved, with 155 adults and children in church, we desperately require additional space and especially contemporary facilities.”
Currently, the church has no baby-changing facilities or accessible toilets.
Green councillor Sue Shanks said that the design was in keeping with the rest of the building, adding: “It’s like St James in Piccadilly that has a really nice extension and we’ve got a copy.
“It hasn’t damaged the beautiful building. I think this will be an asset and I think it’s in keeping.”
Labour councillor Julie Cattell said that churches needed to provide disabled and community facilities to survive. She said: “So many churches and so many public buildings like this don’t have disabled access.
“In order to keep the church alive and offering local facilities, you’re going to have to make some changes.”
Conservative councillor Carol Theobald said: “The materials fit in quite well with the church. They’ve really tried to do that.
“It does provide very good facilities for a thriving church, including a modern kitchen, accessible WC and even the lift. I could do with some of those modern things for my church.”
Brighton and Hove Independent councillor Mark Earthey, who represents Rottingdean and West Saltdean, said that he would have liked the extension to be in a different position.
He said: “I think we’ve got the conditions to protect the Burne-Jones windows. As long as the really ancient Saxon stuff is protected as well, I’ll be voting for it.”
Labour councillor Liz Loughran, who chairs the Planning Committee, said that she had visited the site and in her view the extension would be in the least harmful position.
The committee voted unanimously to approve the plans.
Why does a small Norman Church need a wet room? Presumably the Vicar and his flock all possess showers in their nearby homes? Why does it also need a commercial sized Kitchen?
This is horrific butchery of a Grade II* Listed heritage Church which also involves exhumation of protected war graves.
There is no shortage of venues in Rottingdean including a large scout Hall and huge Village Hall.
Well said Barry.
It’s for the community, Barry. Maybe you’ve never changed a nappy for an adult in a wheelchair? And maybe you’ve never volunteered in the kitchen for a community event? Of course the wet room and large hygienic kitchen facilities are needed! Not everyone is an able-bodied white male, you know.
What in hell has the colour of Barry’s skin ( whom I presume you’ve met personally or seen pictures of him that have been verified as accurate – otherwise you’ve just done some big assumptions there).
I’m disabled and white. Is my disability suddenly of lesser importance or consequence by having a certain skin pigmentation. Cos if it’s not then, respectfully, you unnecessarily brought skin/ race into the equation in an incredibly offensive and racist way.
Maybe Barry’s been driving me to the hospital every fortnight for the last 4 years but didn’t feel the need to tell the world his, or my, business. You see THAT is something you couldn’t know, you don’t know and tbh have no place making sweeping assumptions of anyone who questions something in a way you don’t like whilst hurling unfounded and racist accusations at one and all.
Respectfully Angles. Wind your neck in a little and certainly don’t go speaking on my behalf as some self annotated supreme authority. Especially not when your being, at best, a race-baiter
White male, as opposed to any other colour?
Maybe just being a male is enough to upset you?
So you submitted a formal objection to the application making those points or are you just having (as usual) a post decsion whinge?
Again Barry, please, for the love of god, get at least a basic understanding before opening your mouth. If you don’t know, just ask a humble question, rather than your usual half cocked comments.
If churches and the largely apathetic religion of CofE is to survive, then it needs to find a new purpose, because gatherings for christenings, weddings and funerals isn’t worth a whole institutions existence.
I’m not a fan of the pastiche approach, and it should be something that is more obviously an addition of its own era, like a bright glass well-lit beacon as a vision of the future. Architecture needs to reflect aspiration, and if the CofE is creating a new building that merely harks back to the past, then the message is failed from the outset. If Christian religion is to survive in the UK, then it needs to look as if it’s moving on. This isn’t doing that.
That priest has damaged Rottingdean community irrevocably through this. But im not surprised he’s soo deluded. He surrounded himself with “yes men” and weak willed cattle in that church. All those who were fighting against his ridiculous whims have given up and fled to other churches as they can’t abide his vicious childlike attitude when someone has differing opinions to him.
Why on earth does a church need shower facilities, and a large kitchen!
It all comes down to “use it or lose lt”, as with many other churches.
Brian
Well done Father Anthony. A good plan, well delivered after much objection. Good luck with your project.
This decision was first approved by the perochial church council and congregation. For all those objecting, come to church more often and then you will have a voice. The church family have decided.
The great glory and interest of English parish churches is that they have altered and changed over countless centuries to fit the needs of the time. St Margaret’s has been added to many times and may well be added to again in the future.
The nay sayers would probably have objected to Burne-Jones’s windows had they been around at the time.
The fact that they need an extension is a sign that the parish is alive and flourishing. Good luck to them.
Congratulations Saint Margarets. The church needs to respond to the needs of the community if it’s going to go forward and of course facilities are needed for those that are not necessarily fully Mobile. I’m quite sure that Jesus would’ve been thrilled to bits.
OMG Horrendous!