A CHURCH and community hub has lost its home as part of plans to redevelop Birchwood Shopping Centre.

Birchwood Community Church has had to close its premises to make way for an expansion with new shops, restaurants and additional parking.

Developer Redefine has offered the church 'a bespoke, modern space' once the centre has reopened.

But planning permission has yet to be granted and until then a number of the church's outreach services have been affected including the youth drop-in zone, Encounter Centre cafe and second hand clothes shop.

Dorothy Seed, from the church's leadership team, said: "We've been using the premises since 2008 and over the years we've opened a range of services including a foodbank, mums and tots group, youth centre, cafe, community room, arts and crafts, clothing recycle, worship and prayer.

"So it's quite sad to be leaving because we've put a lot of effort into it."

Church services are currently being held at Birchwood College.

Dorothy, who lives in Gorse Covert, added: "Birchwood is our passion and we've made a lot of friends over the years so we want to continue to be in the community and as central as possible.

"We accept these things take time and you can't build a new shopping centre overnight so we're planning for the interim.

"We can't say what our new space will look like or when it will happen. There are a lot of question marks but we're taking a flexible approach and looking ahead.

"Youth work will continue because we employ a youth worker through Warrington Youth For Christ and we're aware how popular the cafe was.

"People loved having a place to go where they weren't judged in a peaceful and friendly atmosphere and that's something for us to reflect on when we open the new centre."

Nick Gregory, senior asset retail manager for Redefine, said: "We fully support the Birchwood Community Church.

"We are working on plans to provide them with a bespoke, modern space as part of our redevelopment plans for Birchwood Shopping Centre that will enable them to continue the great work and services they provide to the community.

"Ongoing relationships and support of stakeholders and community groups is very much part of our strategy to ensure that Birchwood Shopping Centre and its partners remain the hub of the community."