A NEAR 150-year-old chapel could be converted into a flat.

Rupinder Kaur has lodged an application with Test Valley Borough Council to transform the former and vacant Primitive Methodist Chapel in Vernham Dean into a two-bedroom flat.

According to the application, the former place of worship which dates back to 1869 and replaced a previous building of 1845, is in a “shell condition and requires a full program of works”.

Under the proposal, Mr Kaur plans to keep the outside of the building, in Back Lane, the same but has visions to alter the inside.

A statement in the application states: “The appearance of the existing building will remain unaltered as the proposal involves the conversion of the chapel into two bedroom flat.

“We projected large open space (living, kitchen, dining area) and WC under the existing stairs in the ground floor.

“The stairs leads to mezzanine level with two bedrooms and en-suites for each. The timber will be used to construct the internal floor.”

In a character appraisal of the Vernham Dean Conservation Area carried out by Test Valley Borough Council, it states: “The chapel is not a listed building, but is of local interest and is important in terms of its contribution to the social history of the village.”

To view the application online, go to view-applications.testvalley.gov.uk/online-applications and search for 18/01831/FULLN.