THE team behind plans to build a new church in Willington have asked a council for permission to build a smaller version of their already approved scheme.

Durham County Council approved plans in 2010 to build a new Methodist Church on a former tennis court turned car park next to the existing chapel on Lydia Street.

But now the group behind the build have applied for fresh planning permission to build a smaller church and community centre on the same space.

In a statement to the council’s planning department, the group said the scheme passed in February, 2010, had proved to be too expensive.

The statement said: “This scheme has proved unfortunately beyond the client’s funding capacity at that time.”

The statement went on to say that the new plans are based on the same design but the building being proposed would be smaller than the one already approved.

The new, single storey building, would be 394sqm rather than the approved 420sqm, with space for 120 seats in the worship and community hall.

Once the building is complete, the existing Methodist Chapel would be sold for redevelopment, the group said.

The £480,000 project is being funded through a variety of schemes, including donations by the public.

The current building was built in 1879 and is used by both worshippers and community groups.

A decision by Durham County Council is due in the next couple of weeks.