PLANS to transform a church into a three-bedroom house may be at risk following suggestions bats could be living in the building.

The owners of the Methodist Chapel, in Main Street, Ryther, want to change the use of the property from a chapel to a three-bedroom house.

But concerns have been raised about a wildlife issue by one nearby resident, who wrote to the council following the neighbourhood consultation.

His letter did not object to the proposal in principle, but said: “Any proposed development should take notice that bats inhabit the chapel roof and have done for the past 30-plus years I have lived next to it”.

In a report submitted to the council with the application, the developer said the proposal made use of a redundant building within the village, and: “Instead of demolishing the building and putting a purpose-built dwelling on the site, it is considered more cost effective and sustainable to convert the existing building.”

A spokeswoman for Selby District Council said: “In instances where we are aware of protected species present we would usually request that applicant carries out a bat survey to establish whether bats are present and to set out any mitigation measures that would be needed.”

If given the green light, the plans would create a lounge in what is now the worship hall, install a kitchen in the current meeting room to the rear of the building, and replace the current kitchen with toilet facilities.

A staircase to a completely new first floor would also be created in the building, which would consist of three bedrooms and a bathroom.

Reports from the environmental health department and Yorkshire Water have both concluded that the proposals for the development are satisfactory, and raised no issue with the change of use.

The target date for the application to be dealt with is March 14.