Loch Ness-side community’s church set for new life as house after Highland Council approved changes to Dores Church, a former Church of Scotland site
A former kirk which has not been used as a church since 2020 is set for a new life as a house after plans were approved.
Applicant Jane Andrews had sought permission to alter the former Dores Church into a single residential dwelling.
And Highland Council's planning officers approved the proposals under delegated powers shortly before Christmas.
Granting permission, they said: "The church remained in use until 2020 and therefore the proposed use for residential purposes will bring a used building back into use and a Grade C Listed Building will secure the future of a historic environment asset.
Under the plans, the existing internal first-floor balcony would be partitioned off into a master suite bedroom and en-suite. A mezzanine would also be created at the other end of the church which would house the living room area and the relocated pulpit from the ground floor.
On the ground floor, a kitchen and dining area would be created in the part of the church not covered by the balcony or mezzanine, with a void above it running up to the roof.
Under the mezzanine, the ground floor would be reconfigured to feature several new partitioned areas creating three further bedrooms (one en-suite), a utility room, pantry and a shower room. The existing vestry would be turned into a snug with a new woodburning stove set into its existing fireplace.
Externally a new roofed car port would be created immediately to the west of the vestry/snug, with road access to it from within the neighbouring public car park. An external heating fuel tank next to the vestry will be removed.
Describing the proposals, the applicant’s agents said: “The accommodation has been arranged to work within the constraints of the existing structure and minimise the impact on the existing glazing and exposed internal roof structure.
"The mezzanine floor will play an important structural role in stabilizing the existing masonry panels and reducing future movement."
Commenting on the planned location of the car port, council planners said: "While this is not the ideal scenario in terms of visual amenity a balance needs to be struck in terms of maintaining the beneficial use of the former church.
"The limitations of the curtilage of the church means that any vehicular access would require a major intervention in terms of a breach of the wall and surfacing of the grassed area on the northwest frontage.
"The scale and design of the carport means that it is not unduly visually prominent and can removed at a later date without undue disruption. The design of the fence will ensure that attention it not drawn to it and has the vestry as a backdrop."
Dores & Essich Community Council did not object to the plans.
Commenting on their behalf, Colin McPherson had said: "Given that it conserves and re-purposes the former church for the future the Community Council supports this proposal.
"On a point of detail, it may be helpful to suggest to the applicant that consideration be given to physical protection against potential impact damage to the car port cladding on the car park elevation.”
The council’s historic environment team had requested that the building be “the subject of historic building recording in advance of any development”, to ensure its layout and history is recorded, and a condition has been attached to that effect.
Find out more about planning applications that affect you at the Public Notice Portal.
