PLANS to partially demolish a church and build six homes in its place may not go ahead after council officers recommended the proposal is thrown out.

The Park Road Methodist Church, in Westcliff, has been empty for 20 years and a plans to convert it into four houses and two apartments, along with garages and cycle storage were submitted to Southend Council.

It would require the church to be partially demolished as well as portions of the church hall. But both are Grade II listed.

In a report, Southend Council officers have recommended councillors refuse planning application because the developer has failed to demonstrate how the change can take place “without harming the special character and significance of the listed building”.

It also raises concerns that the new homes would overlook a neighbouring property.

The Milton Conservation Society also objected to the application on several grounds, including that a survey had not been carried out to assess whether bats are now living in the existing building and that a conservation survey has not been submitted.

They said: “In short, this application is potentially supportable with improvements to the design aspects we have raised but without these changes we have to object as the application stands.

“We particularly note that any approval may not necessarily lead to development but possibly to a sale and then to subsequent proposals for more residential units.

“In this event a purchasing developer could exploit any shortcomings in a poorly made approval, so we respectfully ask for very careful consideration with this important local landmark site.”

The council also received three responses from neighbours who were concerned about the availability of parking, the possibility of bats living in the building and the need to retain and repair all historical features.

The church was built in 1872 and is a prominent feature of the Milton Conservation Area. It was sold by the Methodist Church some years ago with the building receiving listed status in 1987 due to its “special architectural and historical interest and character”.

The planning application will be discussed in detail at a development meeting on Wednesday.