Pagham gets green light for new church

The backing for the landmark 2m St Ninian's United Reformed Church means the days of the current place of worship are ending.

Arun District Council planning officer Keith Wheway agreed to the tower development going ahead along Pagham Road after just two letters from individuals objecting to the scheme were received.

This was below the threshold of five letters which would have seen the scheme referred to councillors on Arun's development control committee. The lack of objections from Pagham Parish Council also removed another reason for referral.

The church's minister, the Rev John Gordon, said: "We are obviously pleased that we have managed to secure planning permission.

"We are looking forward to an exciting future for St Ninian's assuming that all the elements of the proposals come together at the right time."

He said it was unknown when the current church would be demolished.

It would be a matter for the URC agency, One Church 100 Uses, which had devised the plans, to secure the funding and arrange the construction contracts.

"Now we have got permission we want to take the next step forward. We haven't made all this effort and spent our money on the plans for nothing," he stated. "It's important, though, that the scheme is a high-quality building as we promised the people of Pagham during the consultation."

The new church will be will be partly-buried below ground level with room for 75 worshippers in a building based on a Martello tower. It could also be used as a meeting place. It will be topped by three storeys of nine flats.

Six will have two bedrooms and three will be one-bedroomed. But the design of the building means it will be only slightly taller than the adjoining village hall.

The present church, dating from 1965, will become a church hall with room for 150 people. The existing hall from 1970 and a manse behind will be demolished.

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