CARBIS Bay Combined Methodist Church has approached Cornwall Council for pre-application advice to convert Chy An Gweal Methodist Chapel and Sunday School in the seaside village into three flats.

The chapel, which was founded in 1849, can be found on St Ives road on the south side, further west from Carbis Bay.

A supporting statement says: “The basic situation is that the Methodist Society has two buildings in relatively close proximity to each other with a small congregation that would not nearly fill one of these buildings.

“Under the Methodist Church constitution it is necessary for church societies to undertake what are known as ‘quinquennial reviews’ on a five-yearly basis. Such reviews identify the physical condition of the building and any works of repair and/or maintenance that is required to be undertaken. Both of the Society’s buildings are substantial structures and both are currently in need of significant repair/maintenance.

“The small congregation has no need for both buildings to cater for its worshipping needs and they cannot viably fund the expense of maintaining both buildings. Under these circumstances the decision has been made that it is essential to sell one of the buildings in order to properly maintain the other.

“The applicants are proposing to dispose of the building and as a registered charity are obliged to ensure that the most viable and economically attractive future use of the building is established.”

For more information see pre-planning application PA25/00312/PREAPP - planning.cornwall.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=STMS6CFG0JW00&activeTab=summary