A £700,000 project to redevelop a church hall into a community hub has been given the go-ahead.

Bosses at Clitheroe’s Trinity Methodist Church submitted an application to Ribble Valley Council to refurbish the church hall to create new access and facilities as a hub to be used by the community for various activities.

Councillors approved the plans for the church to refurbish the school hall and join to the church space by building a bright indoor ‘street’ corridor with a direct access onto the Clitheroe Castle gardens.

As well as creating a complex of ‘modern spaces’ the hub will also have a disabled shower and an upgraded catering standard kitchen which will be used to create employment and training facilities.

A dementia hub, community cafe and a mens’ shed project has also been announced as part of the church’s Trinity 2020 vision.

Building work will begin on the Trinity 2020 Vision when grants and fundraising has been completed, with a target date for tenders in autumn 2019.

A total of £360,000 towards the cost has been raised so far.

Minister Revered Ian Humphreys has written to church members inviting them to a special event which will launch the Trinity 2020 vision following a six-month community consultation.

He said: “The news that planning permission has been granted is wonderful, brilliant and visionary.

“I am so thrilled for our church community, our current building users and the wider community of Clitheroe and the Ribble Valley.

“This news is a further step forward as we seek to share the love of God in many practical ways as we continue to seek to be a place where we offer the love, care and compassion of God to our community.”

Former Clitheroe town mayor, Cllr Allan Knox, who represents the area and is a supporter of the application, said: “If you want to hold an event or set up a group that meets once a week then trying to find a place in Clitheroe is not easy.”

The church service at 10am on Sunday, April 29, will give members a chance to learn more about how the church plans to use the new building to become more relevant to the needs of the local community.