A former church in Swansea that has stood vacant for years and drawn anti-social behaviour could be transformed into housing. A pre-planning application, still at an early stage, has been submitted to Swansea Council seeking permission for the conversion and change of use of the former Ebenezer Methodist Church on Neath Road, Plasmarl, into six two-bedroom flats. The planning documents do not yet identify the applicant.
Historic building with a notable past
Built in 1886-87, the church was one of the last nonconformist chapels in Wales designed by Swansea architect Thomas Thomas in the lancet Gothic style. The building has been empty for years, and ward councillor Beverley Hopkins told WalesOnline it has attracted unwanted attention in that time.
“We've had quite a bit of anti-social behaviour with youths around there, starting fires and things like that,” she said. “When you have a building like that which is empty, it does attract the youths around there.”
Calls for action to safeguard the site
Hopkins said something needs to be done with the building to safeguard it and to help local residents. “It has been empty for so long, that it really does need something to be done to it to bring more life into the area,” she added.
She welcomed the prospect of family accommodation, noting that many people are waiting on the housing list. “If they are two bedroom flats being proposed, then it could be family accommodation, and opportunities for families to move in there which is great, because there are so many people waiting on the housing list for accommodation.”
Because the church is a listed building, Hopkins said any changes would need to be done “very tastefully and to Cadw's standards.” Swansea Council's planning committee will consider the plans.
