Bedworth church unveils expansion plans with new cafe and well-being centre

A Bedworth church has unveiled plans to extend its community building – with a new well-being centre and cafe. Life Church has applied to Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council for permission to make major changes to Dovedale House in Bulkington Road.

There are three planning applications in total as the project is proposed to be carried out in three phases. Ultimately, it will transform the existing community building and what it offers the local area.

This includes increasing the auditorium size to 652 so that it can host larger services and events as well as providing new areas, such as a kids and youth rooms, and multi-use spaces to be used for alternative education and Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision rooms on week days. There will also be well-being spaces for mental health support and counselling as well as a coffee/lounge area and kitchen and community creative arts areas for music and arts groups.

What will the expansion and extension bring?

Phase 1

Proposed extension and external refurbishment of an existing church building to include the partial strip out and improvement of the existing auditorium and removal of the first floor terracing. Two-storey side and rear extensions with ancillary cafe and breakout space to ground floor with community and educational spaces to first floor (Use Class F1/F2). Rain screen facade to be constructed on the northern elevation plus extension to car parking area and other associated works

Phase 2

First floor extension to south to form kids multi-use rooms(Use Class F1/F2) with under croft car parking area underneath. Further internal strip out of original church building to increase auditorium capacity to 652. Extension of car parking area to south of the site with associated works.