Church could be reopened as community facility

Plans to reopen a disused church for the community have been proposed.

Balby Methodist Church was built in 1868 but has been shut since 2008.

Since it closed to worshippers it has fallen into disrepair, according to plans submitted to Doncaster Council.

A developer has proposed restoring and reopening the building and using it to host community events and functions.

If approved by the council, internal alterations would be made to create a first-floor hall and renovate the building’s existing kitchens and toilets.

The exterior of the building would remain largely the same, with new windows to be fitted for energy efficiency.

In 2018, an application from another developer was approved to demolish the site and build 10 apartments in its place.

The demolition of the building was however prevented in 2020, when it was given listed status, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.