PLANS to demolish a historic former Methodist chapel to replace it with flats have been submitted to Northumberland County Council.

Karbon Homes unveiled plans to build affordable homes at Prudhoe’s Ebenezer Methodist Chapel in March 2023. The plan was to initially convert the iconic West Wylam landmark into housing – but in May the housing association revealed that the building was not structurally safe and would need to be removed.

Karbon said the cost of refurbishing the building would make the project unviable. The newly submitted plans have requested permission for eight one-bedroom apartments along with associated external landscaping and a car park.

The proposals were submitted at the end of August and have already attracted five objections. Among those objecting is Russ Greig, the project manager of the Friends of Eastwood Park – a community group that has previously expressed an interest in taking over the chapel for public use.

Mr Greig wrote: “We are opposed to the demolition of the Ebenezer due to the historic nature of the building to our community. The Ebenezer is one of two historic buildings that remain from the “old” village of West Wylam which was cleared during the 1950s to make way for a modern council estate.

“The chapel is much loved by our community and we believe it can have a new life.”

Mr Greig also described the plans as “overdevelopment on a small site” and raised concerns about the steepness of the bank where the chapel is located.

Cllr Gordon Stewart, who represents the Prudhoe South ward, said: “This application had been expected. I would encourage residents or other interested parties to submit their views.”

A design and access statement by HMH architects on behalf of Karbon points out that the chapel has been unused since 2015. It adds that the building is in a “very poor state of repair” with issues including a lack of foundations and poor ground conditions which are causing the chapel to sink.

Other problems include a roof in need of replacement, cracks in the brickwork, a lack of damp proofing and even some fire damage. It adds that the site would deliver “much-needed new affordable homes for the people of Prudhoe."