A LANDMARK Bury church which was forced to close its doors more than six years ago could undergo a £600,000 conversion into 14 high quality apartments.

A planning application to establish the flats at the All Saints Church in Orrell Street, Elton, has been lodged with Bury Council. Property developer Mr Lionel Gilmartin is also seeking listed building consent.

If given the go-ahead, the apartments will herald a new lease of life for the church. Built in 1843, and well-known for its distinctive Romanesque-style tower, All Saints has long been a familiar part of the skyline at Bury Bridge.

But in 1995, due to severe dry rot which posed some danger, services were forced to be transferred and are now held at St Francis House which is more central to the parish.

In October 2000, the grade two listed building was declared redundant by the Parochial Church Council which could no longer afford the spiralling repair costs. And subsequently, the church was put up for sale.

It has been bought by Bury-based Mr Gilmartin who has worked closely with All Saints parishioners and members of the Parochial Church Council to ensure any conversion is carried out sensitively.

He said: "For more than five years, the church has been left in a state of dilapidation. It's one of the most prominent sites in Bury. I think a lot of the parishioners and the Parochial Council are happy to see something positive planned for within the church."

Mr Gilmartin is seeking approval for the conversion of the church to provide the three-storey mix of one and two bedroom, high quality apartments.

"I've put in an application for the 14 apartments. I also plan to provide substantial car parking and to landscape the surroundings," he continued. "I'm going to clean the outside of the church completely so it will be restored to its former glory. And I'm also going to make an attempt to get the church clock going again."

Mr Gilmartin went on: "I've approached this in an extremely sensitive manner and, for the most part, I seem to have satisfied the majority of the parishioners who see the conversion as a good thing."

He emphasised that sensitivity was utmost when putting together plans to screen the church's graveyard areas from the parking areas and to ensure the main entrance to the graveyard was adequately serviced in terms of access.

"I've also been working closely with Bury Council to overcome all obstacles before the application was put in."

If planning permission is granted, then Mr Gilmartin expects the conversion work to begin next February and be completed within six to nine months.

The application is expected to be considered by the local authority's planning control sub-committee next month.

All Saints Church was designed by John Harper, an eminent architect who was also responsible for other churches in the Bury area.

Accommodation extends to around 5,000 sq ft with a churchyard of some 3.2 acres.