PERMISSION is sought to demolish the annex building of a church built nearly 70 years ago.

Longfleet Baptist Church, on Wimborne Road, Poole, has applied to BCP Council for permission to demolish to former manse and office of the church.

A heritage statement said: “None of the buildings on the church site have listed building status or any other form of protected status.

“However, we recognise that the church site is in the Heckford Park Conservation Area and this statement addresses that.

“The buildings in the area of Heckford Park were built during the early years of the 20th century and the original church building, now being used as a church hall, was built in 1910.

“That building is similar in style to the surrounding houses. However, the church buildings have had a number of additions and extensions during the intervening period, and these are of a more modern style in keeping with the time of their construction.

“The building that is the subject of this application to demolish was built in 1954 as a domestic house to use as a manse for the minister of the church.

“It’s style and construction are very different to that of its neighbours. It is constructed with two brick gable walls at either end with the front and rear walls constructed of a timber frame infilled with reinforcement mesh, glass fibre insulation and then faced externally with render.

“The building continued as a domestic dwelling until 1983 when change of use was granted to turn it into an annex for the church’s own use.

“It has now become surplus to the church’s requirements and in need of some extensive repairs. In consultation with our holding trustees, The Baptist Union Corporation, Didcot, the church has decided to demolish the annex/manse building and landscape the site to extend its garden area.

“We hope to use this a an area for community activities and feel that it will make what is a rather unsightly building into an attractive area of green space.”