A FORMER Sunday school which has fallen into disrepair will be torn down to make way for housing.

Bury Council has given the go-ahead for Chapel House, in Smyrna Street, Radcliffe, to be demolished, with the site earmarked for new homes.

Fusilier Manufacturing asked the local authority for permission to pull down the 19th century building in August, saying that there “has been no interest in anyone using the building, and it has fallen into disrepair.”

The building, which was erected in 1883 and has more recently been used as a joinery workshop, is now set for a similar development to the street’s former Methodist church, which was replaced by the Chapel Court housing complex.

Slates, brickwork and stonework from the historic building will be salvaged for re-use after it is dismantled.

A heritage statement submitted with the application said: “By 1855 a Church/Sunday school was financed on the corner of Ainsworth Road and Smyrna Street which gradually became over-subscribed.

“More floor space was required, so in 1883, a date stone was laid by William Agnew MP to commemorate a separate Sunday school on a new site in Smyrna Street, our subject building.”

The Sunday school building was sold in 1962, when the Methodist New Connexion Church amalgamated with others to become the New Wesley Methodist Church, and has since been used as a joinery workshop.

The report adds that outbuildings and extensions have been added “in haphazard manner”, meaning businesses have not been keen to take over the site.

It says: “Nowadays, there has been no interest in taking over the old business, housed in premises which cannot compete with purpose built units.

“This has led over the years to the building fabric becoming dilapidated and un-economic to repair.

“The decision has been made to carefully demolish, and re-use any building materials which can be salvaged.”