A developer has pledged to ‘retain the inherent character’ of a Grade II-listed 134-year-old Merseyside church which he plans to convert into 15 apartments. Tony McDonough reports

A Grade II-listed church in Merseyside that dates back to 1887 is to be converted into 15 apartments.

St Mary’s Church in Brooklands Avenue in Waterloo is currently derelict and has fallen into a state of disrepair and is vulnerable to further deterioration. Following its closure it was put on the market with a price tag of £125,000 by agents at Mason Owen.

Winter Melia Developments now owns the property and this week architects at Falconer Chester Hall secured planning consent to convert it for residential use. It was approved by Sefton Council via delegated powers.

Robert Brym, associate director at Falconer Chester Hall said Winter Melia’s project would see the “sensitive” conversion of the church while retaining the inherent character and securing the future of the building over the long term.

He added: “The conversion will include a number of duplex apartments, 15 car parking spaces, two of which are for electric vehicles and 15 cycle spaces. The original features have been sympathetically incorporated into the design and the pulpit and font will be relocated into the residents’ lobby. Externally, there are two tree-lined amenity spaces.”

Winter Melia specialises in converting period properties and founder Phil Melia added: “We could see the potential that St Mary’s church offered and it is great news that planning and listed building consent has been granted. We can move forward with this project to bring this wonderful heritage building back into use.”

Other consultants on the scheme include Clancy Consulting (Engineering), AEC Acoustic and Engineering Consultants, Vectors (Transport), Liath Heritage and Design, Lally Tree Management, The Tyrer Partnership (Ecological).