Former Hills Department Store in Spalding could become home for The Lighthouse Pentecostal Church

The former Hills department store could be getting a new lease of life as a church if new plans are given the green light.

The Lighthouse Pentecostal Church have submitted plans to change the use of Coneys store in Spalding.

The Broad Street shop has stood empty since May when a notice appeared on the door to state that it was closing with immediate effect. The store was taken over by Scott Crowson in late 2020 after the previous owners had announced it was shutting.

An application has been lodged with South Holland District Council to change the use of the site from retail to mixed use, comprising of ancillary retail, cafe, play space, offices, church, community meeting place and food bank.

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A document submitted with the application states that the church has outgrown its current site in Haverfield Road, Spalding, and needs a larger building.

It states: “With a current regular attendance of over 200 - 300 people each week, church members want to see their community of Spalding served physically and emotionally with acts of kindness and to bring people together as an outworking of the vision statement.

“There are constrictions currently being experienced due to the size of the Lighthouse Church building, which is limiting the ability to deliver the many community functions currently undertaken and prevent new ones from being started.

“The Lighthouse leadership believe a larger building would make church a more inviting place as currently it is very overcrowded. The vision is to move church out of its current venue and into a larger and more accessible location in the town centre, 18/19 (Broad Street), giving greater opportunity to bless the community.

“Part time services such as the Foodbank could be extended with more space, as several ventures will be able to function in the building at the same time, unlike within the current location.

“This will offer more activities and opportunities, as well as more diversity close to the marketplace and improved footfall into the heart of the community from people attending and working or volunteering in functions that have not been available in the town before.”