FRESH plans to bring a dilapidated former York chapel back into use have been unveiled - with a reduced number of apartments so its historic balcony and ceiling can be preserved.

York company S Harrison Developments Ltd still wants to create a Sainsbury Local supermarket in the Grade Two listed Groves Chapel but has abandoned original plans to build flats above the store.

It says the reduction follows talks with City of York Council's planning team and conservation officer as it sought to identify a suitable design to safeguard the balcony area and ceiling of the main chapel, which dates back to the 1880s.

A spokesman said that at the request of the council, the space would now be left 'void and intact,' with only 16 apartments created in buildings at the back of the chapel and on a car park, reducing the total number from 26.

He said the store would sell liquor, following the removal of a covenant restricting the sale of alcohol from the building, and it would create 15-20 new jobs.

York Press:

The chapel as it looked around 1900. (Picture courtesy of yorkstories)

He said the scheme would give a new future to the deteriorating landmark building, which is situated at the junction of Union Terrace and Wigginton Road, with the cost of preserving it and preventing further deterioration running to approximately £500,000.

He revealed that Harrison will showcase its plans at a drop-in consultation at The Hut, situated nearby in Wigginton Road, from 3.45pm to 8.00pm next Wednesday.

He said the chapel had not been used as a place of worship since the 1970s, when its congregation amalgamated with Monkgate Methodist Church, now Trinity, and the pulpit, organ and many of the pews had long since been removed.

The York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust had been using the building for offices whilst using the ground floor of the chapel as a storage and training space, but it was no longer fit for purpose and was surplus to future requirements.

A Trust spokesperson said the chapel was under-utilised and not suitable for clinical use, and all NHS organisations were obliged to dispose of surplus assets and achieve the best financial return for the NHS.

Gavin Douglas, of Harrison, said it had worked closely with planning officers to minimise any impact on the local community, providing off-street parking for the new homes and a dedicated unloading bay for vehicles making store deliveries.