THE site of a former Sunday school could be developed into a row of three-storey townhouses.

An application has been submitted to build seven houses and 14 parking spaces at the site of the 19th Century Chapel House in Smyrna Street, Radcliffe.

Bury Council granted Fusilier Manufacturing permission to pull down the former Methodist Sunday school in 2016 after it fell into disrepair. At the time, it was earmarked for housing.

Demolition of the building began in January last year.

Now Shahid Mahmood, who owns The Car Sales Company in James Street, Bury, has submitted an application to Bury Council to build seven three-storey townhouses at the vacant brownfield site.

Each of the properties would have four bedrooms, a front and rear garden, and two off-road parking spaces.

A planning, design and access statement written by Inspire Planning Solutions Ltd on behalf of the applicant reads:

"The application seeks consent for the redevelopment of the site for seven four-bedroom three-storey dwellings set within a townhouse style terrace fronting Shire Gardens.

"The materials used would match the surrounding built form, namely red-brick facing, tiled roof with UPVC windows.

"The development proposal would make a valued contribution towards local housing land supply in times of a chronic

under supply of homes nationally, without having adverse impacts on the character and appearance of the area, on amenity or on the local highway network."

Chapel House was erected in 1883 as a Sunday school building but changed its use in 1962 when the Methodist New Connexion Church amalgamated with others to become the New Wesley Methodist Church.

It was then used as a joinery workshop.

The street's former Methodist church was also developed to become Chapel Court housing complex.

To view the plans, search application number 63832 at https://planning.bury.gov.uk/online-applications/.