Council

Moray Council approved turning Speymouth Parish Church, the Red Kirk, founded in 1732 and closed in 2024, into a family home with a granny annex, with pews removed but the building kept largely as it is.

A planning inspector approved five homes in place of St Anne’s Church in Hastings on appeal, overturning the council’s refusal and ruling the loss of the church regrettable but not against planning policy.

Dorset Council approved converting Weymouth’s Wyke Regis Methodist Church, unused since 2021, into six flats with no on-site parking, despite objections from neighbours, the civic society and the town council.

Vancouver council considered a motion in 2024 to help churches and faith groups, which own significant tax-exempt land but often lack development expertise, turn property into affordable housing, following projects like Central Presbyterian’s 213-home tower.

The United Methodist Judicial Council ruled that a Book of Discipline provision on transferring church property can only be used with denominations that have a General Conference-approved agreement, not as a way for congregations to leave with their buildings.

Bulawayo City Council served demolition notices on 12 churches in suburbs including Nkulumane and Emganwini over dilapidated or illegally built structures, alongside action against 47 run-down properties in the city centre.

St Mary Magdalene Church in Paddington, a Grade I listed building, began a £7.3 million project in 2017 to conserve the church and add a community annex, backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Westminster City Council and charities.