A CHURCH hall dating back to the late nineteenth century is to be converted into flats.

Tottington Methodist Church officials have received permission to transform the Grade II listed Sunday School building into 15 apartments.

The church hall has for many years been a popular venue with community groups and schools for staging productions and events.

The money raised will go to repairing Tottington Methodist Church which has been plagued by dry rot for the last 50 years.

Church officials had initially planned to demolish the 1870 Victorian church hall building on Wesley Street, Tottington and build a new church incorporating a hall. This they said would be more cost effective than repairing the church itself which was built in 1905.

However, the historical status of both buildings put a stop to their plans. But church officials pressed on with their revised plan to turn it into flats and raise the much-needed cash.

The plan will preserve the facade of the 130-year-old building but the interior will be changed to accommodate flats on three floors. Plans also include the provision of car parking spaces at the side of the building.