Bolton church conversion Makin progress
Bolton council has granted planning permission for a residential conversion of the town's redundant Holy Trinity Church led by developer Seddon Group.
The scheme features a three-storey extension to the rear of the Grade II-listed Georgian church which has been derelict since 1992.
The design by Manchester-based Makin Architecture features 22 one and two-bedroom apartments in the original church and 16 apartments in a new-build extension, joined to the old by means of an unobtrusive glazed link.
Practice design director Ashley Hunt said: 'From our experience of undertaking a number of successful church conversions in Hulme, we knew it was important to create a scheme in Bolton where the new building doesn't try to compete with the old. Our intention was to create a building that responds to this significant site in the town centre whilst respecting the integrity of the historic church."
The apartments within the existing church are designed to preserve the double height of the central nave and maximise light from the original stained glass windows. The new flat-roofed addition is a modern lightweight structure clad with hardwood vertical screening to the balconies and windows.
Earlier attempts to find an alternative use for the church had failed and despite its prominent location on Trinity Street the building had subsequently deteriorated to the extent that almost the whole of the interior was lost.