A historic Welsh church is up for auction with approved plans to be converted into a five-bedroom house, but the planning consent also covers the opportunity to build an additional luxury home within its extensive grounds.
The former All Saints Church, at Kilvey Road, St Thomas, Swansea dates from 1845 and was built by the celebrated copper industrialist Grenfell family, who were from St Thomas and also constructed a school and houses for workers. The unused church contains memorials and windows dedicated to them and another prominent family called the Gwynnes.
The church was closed in December 2015 by the Church in Wales and sold to the current owner and auction vendor in 2017. A previous planning application submitted in 2018 for conversion into a home and two extra homes in the grounds was turned down.
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However, plans for the church conversion and just one new home in the grounds were approved by Swansea County Council's planning department and the decision issued in June 2022 after having considered the application which included, among other things, 14 objection letters that mentioned parking, unsafe access, and other matters.
One neighbouring resident, though, wrote to say he wanted work to start on the scheme as soon as possible. And a highways officer said the development would not have a detrimental impact on road safety or parking.
A heritage officer said there had been a request from the community to Welsh heritage body Cadw to have All Saints Church listed when it was declared redundant. The officer stated that All Saints Church was "clearly of local historic interest" but the request was declined by Cadw on the basis that the church currently in use in St Thomas was already listed.
A design and access statement submitted on behalf of developer Peter Williams said external alterations to the church would be minimal. It added: "The retention and preservation of the church is considered a key benefit of this scheme which will preserve a key feature along Kilvey Road in perpetuity."
The building contains a memorial with names of some thirty soldiers from the area who were killed in the First World War, plus details of the recipient of a Victoria Cross as well as abundance of features to incorporate into the dream home renovation, including a mesmerising exposed roof structure, beautiful stained glass windows and carved stone columns and arches.
The current owner said: "I have now moved away to north Wales, therefore this stunning development opportunity has been placed up for sale with Paul Fosh Auctions with a guide price of £225,000-plus.
"It would be lovely to see someone nice taking on this amazing development project and make this beautiful church into a family home along with the new, additional, aesthetically pleasing detached family home built within the church grounds."
"Plaques with some of the soldiers' names are still on the wall in the church and the WW1 memorial stained glass windows, depicting St George and St Michael, are still present in the church."
To get inspired on how you could and should include the original features into the home to ensure it is a special and unique property that retains its heart and soul and adds to its financial value, check out the outstanding conversion of a Cardiff church here.
Sean Roper, of Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions, said: "This a really rare opportunity to acquire a stunning church with planning for conversion to an five bedroom, six bathroom, executive home with further planning for a detached dwelling in the adjoining grounds.
"The church, when converted, will offer generous accommodation and will include a games room, home cinema room and an open plan lounge. The kitchen area will be overlooked from an upper floor mezzanine living area.
"The master bedroom will benefit from a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite bathroom, with an additional seating area with full glass wall offering stunning views across Swansea city and the bay. The detached new build within the grounds will offer a garden area and garage plus parking - and full plans are available for the church and new build within the legal pack.
"This wonderful opportunity is situated in the St Thomas area of the city, which is convenient for both Swansea city centre and the new developments at SA1 and Copr bay waterfront site including the new arena. The world renowned Gower Peninsula and the Mumbles are within easy reach via good road links and public transport."
Full planning has been granted for conversion of the church to residential and the construction of one detached dwelling under planning reference 2019/0135 on Swansea County Council's website.
The next Paul Fosh Auctions sale, when this property will be offered for sale with a guide price of £225,000 plus starts at 12 noon on Tuesday, August 30 at noon and ends on Thursday, September 1, at 5pm.
For further information, call Paul Fosh Auctions on 01633 254044. And don't miss the best dream homes in Wales, renovation stories, and interiors - join the Amazing Welsh Homes newsletter, sent to your inbox twice a week.
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