THE DEMOLITION of a Southampton church centre could make way for five new homes should plans be approved by civic chiefs.

St. James' Church Parochial Church Council have submitted an application to Southampton City Council proposing the demolition of St John's Centre on St James Road.

The site would then be redeveloped with the erection of five houses with parking and gardens.

It comes as the church plans to update and upgrade the church's buildings.

The demolition would make room for five three-bed town houses on St James Road in Shirley.

A planning statement reads: "The proposed redevelopment of the St. John’s Centre forms part of St. James’ Church strategic reassessment of its accommodation.

"In that strategic plan, revenue generated from the development of the St. John’s Centre site will help fund the refurbishment and enhancement of the main St James’ Church facilities (including Shirley Parish Hall on the corner of Colebrook Avenue and St. James Road) to better suit their regular church and community usage."

The houses would be three-storeys high and access would be directly to St James Road.

Plans state that all the houses would be three bedroom dwellings with all of the bedrooms on the second floor and living and kitchen space on the first floor. A garden room is shown on the ground floor for each dwelling.

The design and access statement submitted to the council sets out the reasons for the proposed redevelopment.

It mentions the inadequacies of the existing building and the building needs of St. James’ Church and sets the development in the context of current proposals for a comprehensive update and upgrade the church’s buildings.

The centre is made of a main building and a three-storey tall bell tower.

Inside there is a large hall that stretches the length and breadth of the building and incorporates a small kitchen area, together with associated lavatories, a small office and an activity room in a semi basement.

The space was previously used for church services and activities associated with St James' Church but this has now mostly stopped. The building is still used by another church organisation on an occasional basis.