THE conversion of a Grade II listed church into a youth hub has moved a step closer after gaining crucial planning approval.

Last year saw Frân Wen announce plans to create a purpose-built £3.2m creative hub for children and young people by transforming St Mary’s Church on Bangor’s Garth Road.

Known as “Nyth” (Nest), it is set to include rehearsal, workshop and small-scale performing spaces to be used for a range of creative projects.

But before work can begin, one of the crucial planning hurdles has now been navigated after Gwynedd Council approved a listed building application to remove fixtures and fittings in order to facilitate the project.

Built in 1864  at a cost of £4,650 to the design of HP Horner, a well-known Victorian architect of Liverpool, this was partially donated by the future Lord Penrhyn.

But now having been approved by Gwynedd Council planning officers,  this will allow the removal, storage and re-use of the organ and pews.

The documents accompanying the planning application say: “The building has been redundant and empty for some years and clearly without a beneficial use it will continue to deteriorate with eventual loss.

“The proposed restoration of the building, for which funding is in place, will ensure that the building remains in the heart of the community.

“This application is for the careful removal, storage and re-use of the organ and pews and the removal of the screen infill at the western end which comprises an office, kitchen, storage and toilets.

“It is intended to find a new home for the organ if possible and to re-use much of the stored timber in the final design.”

It’s expected that a separate application for the remainder of the works will be submitted in due course.

“The process for the establishment of Nyth is well under way and Architects were recently appointed for Stage 3 to develop a design and take it to full Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent”, a design and access statement said.

“It is expected that the design of the scheme will continue to develop and applications for Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent will be submitted by March 2020.”