Lighthouse Pentecostal Church ‘disappointed’ that Coneys plan withdrawn from South Holland District Council’s planning committee at ‘short notice’

The people looking to transform an empty department store say they are disappointed that their application has been deferred with ‘little notice’.

The Lighthouse Pentecostal Church bid to convert the former Coneys store in Spalding into a community hub was due to be discussed at tonight’s South Holland District Council planning committee meeting.

But the council says that the application has been pulled because ‘material information that has not been fully considered’.

This is the second time that the council has deferred making a decision on the application to change the use of the former Hills site into a church, soft play area, cafe and food bank.

A spokesman for the church is calling on the planning department to ‘make clear the reasons’ behind the decision.

She said: “We are deeply disappointed at the decision to defer our case again, especially with so little notice.

“We hope to be able to understand the reasons, as we are confident we have addressed all policy concerns raised by the planning department and we are keen to hear the committees decision.

“We hope the planning department will make clear the reasons and act to bring this case back to the meeting at the earliest opportunity."

The council’s planning committee were recommended to refuse the application on the grounds that the loss of a prime retail site would affect the vitality of the town centre.

But this sparked a passionate debate in the town with some people agreeing with the decision while others support the application.

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