Derelict 1902 church could become community centre

A Grade II-listed church left derelict for two decades looks set to be converted into a Kurdish community centre under new plans.

The former Church of Protestant Martyrs in Wavertree, Liverpool, has been empty since 2004 and repeatedly targeted by vandalism, theft, trespass and damage from fire and water ingress.

But the church on Salisbury Road could have a brighter future after the plans were submitted to Liverpool City Council.

Planning documents submitted by Liverpool Kurdish Community Centre said there are "considerable public benefits of the proposed development".

The building – which was threatened with demolition almost a decade ago – will be repaired and brought back into “beneficial public use, securing the long-term future of the heritage asset and preserving remaining features of heritage interest".

The plans "would provide a meeting space for the local Kurdish community, facilitating interaction and social cohesion in the local community,” the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

If approved, the site will be transformed into a centre to be used by the city’s Kurdish community, managed by the local Salahaddin Community Organisation.

A date has yet to be confirmed for the plans to be considered.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to [email protected]