An application to convert a residential home into an office for staff at an Eccleshall church has been refused. 

In July 2025, a proposal was submitted "for the change of use of an existing semi-detached property known as Trinity Cottage" in Eccleshall "to offices for use by staff from the adjacent Holy Trinity Church."

Trinity Cottage is a mid-20th century property situated 40 metres southwest of the church. 

According to the application "Church staff currently operate out of a single office space within the church, and it is unduly cramped.  

"The objective of the application is to provide more appropriate and spacious office accommodation for use by church staff.  

"The application accordingly proposes the change of use of the existing five bedroomed dwelling to provide two offices, a meeting room, kitchen and toilet at ground floor with four further offices and a bathroom at first floor."

On 20 March, the proposal was refused by Stafford Borough Council, who said: "The proposed development would introduce a main town centre use on an edge of centre site with no justification to demonstrate whether any suitable and sequentially preferable sites exist within the Eccleshall Local Centre."

The Eccleshall Parish Neighbourhood Plan states that, "the heart of the town will be prioritised as a thriving centre for local shops, services and community infrastructure" , a sentiment mirrored by current planning regulations. 

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The council also stated that "the proposed development would fail to make adequate provision for the parking of vehicles" and therefore result in an increase in "highway danger due to the likelihood of vehicles being parked on the public highway."

However, this problem may be pre-existent as the application claims that many of those working at the church choose to walk or cycle to the office and " the church staff who do drive to site are currently required to park on the public highway since there is no dedicated off-street parking for the Church.

"The proposal will remodel the frontage of the property to provide four parking spaces, and will also repurpose the existing shed to provide a secure bicycle store."

Nevertheless, the council stated that only three of the four parking spaces would meet accessibility criteria set out by the Highways Authority meaning "the proposed parking provision would fall short" of requirements. 

Read the full application here.