Church considers empty offices for places of worship and ‘gatherings’

Empty offices in Leicestershire could soon be home to a Pentecostal church. The space above a former estate agency in Fennel Street, Loughborough town centre, was previously used as an education ‘hub’ to provide guidance to young people.

But the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Cornerstone Parish, currently based at John Storer House in the city, wants to hold services in the offices as well as use them as a base for community outreach initiatives. An application submitted to Charnwood Borough Council for a change of use proposal for the first floor of 7-9 Fennel Street states that minimal changes will be made to the interior of the building and that there would be no external changes, if the plan is approved.

Planning documents state: “The proposed use aligns with the community’s need for a place of worship and assembly and we are committed to being responsible neighbors and contributing positively to the local area. The church will contribute positively to the community by providing a place for religious worship, gatherings and potential outreach programs.”

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The church has a community kitchen, an airport pickup service for international students, and a summer club for children, among other initiatives. The ground floor of the building was previously an estate agent and an employment agency.

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