PLANS to demolish vacant buildings on a former church site in Parr have been approved.

Proposals to demolish the buildings at Our Lady Mother of God Church on Fleet Lane, including the parish house, garage and club, were originally submitted by the Archdiocese of Liverpool in April.

The application was denied as the applicant required prior approval, as the building to be demolished has the potential to support roosting bats.

A prior approval application was then submitted in August, alongside a bat survey.

The bat survey was reviewed by Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service, which concurred that there was no evidence of roosting bats.

The officers’ report says the Archdiocese of Liverpool has arranged for a refurbishment and demolition asbestos survey to be carried out prior to the commencement of the main strip-out works.

“All asbestos containing materials identified in the refurbishment and demolition asbestos survey will be removed by a licensed asbestos contract prior to any programmed works continuing and be disposed of in accordance with control of asbestos regulations in a licensed tip,”  the report says.

“Water will be used as a dust suppressant with covered skips and limits on the drop heights to minimise dust.

“The broad principles of the method of demolition are considered to be acceptable.”

The application has been approved by delegated powers earlier this week, subject to conditions.

The demolition must be carried out within five years of the approval date and must be carried out in accordance with the details submitted in the application.

A separate application was submitted by MCI Developments in July seeking permission to build 54 new homes on the former church site.

The development will comprise of four four-bedroom houses; 29 three-bedroom houses and 21 two-bedroom houses.

The homes, if approved, will be built for and managed by Sovini Housing Group.