NEW plans to demolish a town centre church in order to build 18 apartments have been submitted.

The vacant Warrington Baptist Church on Sankey Street could be bulldozed in order to construct 18 one-bedroom supported living apartments for residents with mental health problems and learning difficulties.

An application for planning permission submitted to Warrington Borough Council also includes an administration office and 14 car parking spaces.

In its application, the Fairhome Housing Association said: “The former Baptist church is a flat-roofed, single-storey building – its form is relatively modern but is of no architectural merit.

“The design of the proposed development provides an important opportunity to make a positive contribution to the application site and the surrounding area, thus enhancing the Town Hall Conservation Area."

Previous plans for the scheme were withdrawn in January after a number of issues surrounding the development were raised.

A consultation on the plans runs until Friday, March 30.