PLANS to convert a disused Haworth church to accommodate three additional flats have been turned down.

Bradford Council planners rejected the proposals for Chapel Works, in Mill Hey.

The empty building was once Mill Hey Primitive Methodist Chapel. It was built in 1870, though has not been used as a church since 1954.

Permission has already been granted to convert the three-storey property into nine flats. But the latest application had asked to add three more one-bedroom flats.

A detailed planning officer's report on the proposals states the principle of bringing the building back into use is acceptable.

It notes: "The reuse of an attractive building to bring it into a viable use is welcomed. The site is reasonably well located in relation to the facilities of Haworth and a bus route passes outside.

"Since the previous grant of planning permission in 2011, the applicant has acquired additional land and now proposes to use this to create additional parking spaces rather than the undercroft parking at the rear which was previously approved.

"This allows more floor area within the chapel to be available for the conversion and the applicant now seeks approval for three more flats, making 12 in total."

But council planners successfully recommended the latest application be rejected, citing a "lack of satisfactory information" accompanying the plans, and the "unacceptable" potential impact on nearby protected trees.

They concluded the new retaining wall for the extra parking spaces, which would be needed for the additional flats, would cut into the roots of the trees and destabilise them.