Planning permission has been granted for a new, purpose-built Gospel Hall on land at Chapel Farm, off Luton Road, Chalton. The new Gospel Hall will replace the Church’s existing meeting place in Houghton Regis, which is no longer large enough to meet the needs of the growing church community.
The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church worked closely with Central Bedfordshire Council to develop a scheme that respects the agricultural heritage of the site. The approved development will see the removal of the site’s dilapidated agricultural buildings, replacing them with sensitively designed facilities that meet the needs of the Church community while enhancing biodiversity and creating new areas for nature to flourish.
The Chapel Farm site provides the space needed to meet the needs of the Church while delivering lasting benefits for the wider Chalton community.
The approved development includes a purpose-built Gospel Hall designed to accommodate the Church’s congregation, together with sufficient parking to meet both current and future requirements.
The benefits the development will bring to the local Chalton community are outlined below.
Working with Central Bedfordshire Council, the Hall has been designed to reflect the agricultural heritage of the site. The building’s size has been kept to a minimum while still providing adequate space to serve the local congregation, the floorspace of the Hall will be smaller than that of the existing buildings on site.
To support ambitions for long-term use of the site, the Gospel Hall has been designed with sustainability at its heart. We will utilise responsibly sourced materials, and we are working with specialist consultants on this approach.
The plans also include a strong focus on habitat creation, including the planting of a significant number of trees along the eastern portion of the site, and Biodiversity Net Gain on site is expected to well exceed the national standard of 10%.
The Chapel Farm site is well located to meet the needs of the Church and the wider community, with excellent accessibility by road, on foot and by public transport. The site is accessed from Luton Road, the main road through Chalton, and the approved development includes a new access point positioned further along the road to improve visibility and enhance public safety.
A bus stop is located immediately outside the site, with existing pavements providing convenient pedestrian access from the village to the new Gospel Hall.
The development includes a suitably sized car park designed to accommodate the needs of the congregation while complementing the surrounding landscape. Inspired by a ‘National Trust’ aesthetic, the parking area has been carefully designed to sit comfortably within its rural setting and is partially screened from view by the Gospel Hall.
The approved scheme also includes 48 electric vehicle charging points and secure parking for 30 bicycles, encouraging sustainable travel wherever possible.
