The council has refused Ardgowan Hospice’s request to demolish a historic church, citing insufficient reasons for the demolition.
Greenock: So, here’s the scoop. Ardgowan Hospice owns this old church on Ardgowan Street, built way back in 1881. It closed its doors in 2017, and now the hospice wants to tear it down.
But there’s a catch! The building is in a conservation area, so they need permission to demolish it. The council took a look at their request and said, “Nope!”
Back in 2017, the hospice had big plans to build a new facility by knocking down the church and a nearby center, but that never happened.
The council’s report was pretty clear. They said the reasons for wanting to demolish the church just didn’t cut it. They want to protect the historic vibe of the area and think there might be other ways to keep the building around.
The hospice argued that keeping the church running was too expensive. They mentioned costs like insurance and utilities, which added up to about £7,500 last year. They expect it to rise to at least £11,000 soon.
They also pointed out that maintaining the building safely for the community was becoming a real burden. But the council wasn’t convinced. They said the hospice didn’t provide enough details to back up their claims about the costs.
Since the church closed, it’s been falling apart. The council suggested that if the hospice can’t use it, they should try to sell it to someone who can restore it.
The hospice bought the church with plans to demolish it for a bigger unit, but they’re not looking to sell it right now. They think it might be useful for future development.
The council really values the church’s unique design and its role in the community. They believe it adds charm to the area and should be preserved.
Now, the hospice has the option to appeal this decision. They’ve mentioned that the previous owners didn’t take care of the building, which is why it’s in such bad shape now.
