ONE OF Padiham's best-loved churches, which conservationists once feared would be bulldozed, is to be converted into two family homes.

Developer Peter Broadley, 42, was given the go-ahead to transform the former St Anne's and St Elizabeth's Church, affectionately known as Padiham Green, by town planners on Thursday night.

Mr Broadley, of Beech Crescent, Accrington, has said that many of the imposing church's original features will be maintained, including the stained glass window panels, and he has already bought the old pews to be used for wood panelling.

The 129-year-old church closed last October because of dwindling congregations.

Last month it was feared the church could be demolished when Burnley Council put the green up for sale, before later performing a U-turn.

Mr Broadley's bid to buy the adjoining land, also known as Padiham Green, ended when the council withdrew it from sale after residents campaigned to keep the area as one of the town's oldest green areas.

He told Burnley Council's development control committee that he was aware of the public feeling within the town about the site as he used to live in Padiham.

He said: "I am well aware of the neighbourhood and it is a lovely building.

"I bought it wanting to retain the look of the church in every manner I could.

"Everything I am doing with the church is to keep it the best as possible within the landscape."

Coun David Heginbotham said at Thursday's meeting he was confident Mr Broadley would maintain the appearance of the building.

He said: "The church is a first class building and one of the oldest in Padiham.

"I feel this could be nothing but a benefit to the people of Padiham."

A number of objections against the church conversion proposal, most of which came from Padiham Town Council, criticised the position of the garages accompanying the houses and the loss of the footpath, which runs adjacent to the church.

Lancashire County Council also raised concerns about access to the site and the parking of vehicles in the turning circle next to the church.

A condition of approval is now that no vehicles are to park there.