Sheringham Baptist Church plans for new building

Proposals have been put forward to turn a former church building into seven new homes.

The plans, for the Sheringham Baptist Church building in Holway Road in Sheringham to be demolished and replaced with four two-bed and three one-bed homes, have been submitted to North Norfolk District Council's planning department and are currently under consultation.

Sheringham Baptist Church itself is set to be moved to 62 Cromer Road which is currently Abbeyfield House, a large two storey former residential home built in 1910, which would be knocked down and a new church built, giving more parking and space for additional activities.

There is already outline planning permission from North Norfolk District Council for the Cromer Road build, and the church completed their purchase of the site in November last year.

The project still needs full planning permission to agree its exact appearance, landscaping, layout and scale.

Rev Bryan Pickard from the Baptist Church, said: 'So far we need around another �1m for the building work, but we hope work can start on the new building within a year.'

In July, worshippers at Sheringham Baptist Church raised �117,000 in the space of just a day towards funding for the new building.

The total given by members and regular attenders, was made up of about �90,000 worth of lump sums and �27,000 yearly of regular gifts, including tax refunds.

From this year's Christmas collection the church also gave �2,200 to help The African Child Trust in Uganda.