Plans to convert a Grade II listed church building into a residential property have been lodged with Durham County Council.
St James's Church in Castle Eden closed as a place of worship in 2016 due to financial issues and dwindling attendance.
Czero Developments, which bought the building in 2024, is looking to convert it into a single home.
The revised design plan aims to balance maintaining the church's architectural integrity with making it a functional living space.
The plan proposes extending the existing balcony to create a master bedroom suite while keeping much of the nave as a double-height area.
This approach aims to keep the church's open and light feel.
Under the extended balcony, there will be two more bedrooms and a bathroom, and the chancel will largely remain the same, serving as a kitchen and dining area.
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The plan also includes preserving and incorporating the church's original features, such as stained glass windows, columns, capitals, ceiling paintings, and funerary monuments.
Externally, two stained glass windows on the south wall of the nave will be removed to allow more natural light into the living spaces and provide views of the private garden.
The stained glass will be restored and repurposed within the church.
The windows will be replaced externally with heritage-clear glazing.
A new set of glazed double doors will be installed in the south wall of the former organ chamber to provide garden access and natural light.
The existing lean-to structure, in poor condition, will be replaced with a timber-clad, mono-pitch lean-to structure.
The conversion aims to ensure the long-term use of the church while preserving its architectural and historical significance.
Parking arrangements and external access routes remain consistent with previously approved plans.
Two on-site parking spaces will be provided as part of the development.
The project also includes an updated ecology report to ensure no negative impact on the local environment.
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