The demolition team move in to prepare for the £24m Premier Inn. Image: Tony Worrall.
A 13-storey block of student flats will replace the Mission Church in Preston City Centre, a planning committee has confirmed.
The flats will include a purpose-built church, with 11 storeys of student accommodation above it.
The multi-million pound plans have been discussed for over two-years, but have finally been approved.
A restaurant and bar are also included in the plans that would see the demolition of the 130-year-old Mission Church.
An application to build the sky-high flats was made back in June, but was put before Preston City Council in August.
The building would include 62 cluster flats, and 11 studios for student use.
The planning report outlines various problematic issues, including the use of windows overlooking land owned by others: “However, in this instance, the adjacent land is believed to have been used for mass burials during a cholera outbreak in Preston in the 19th century. In view of this, the land is unsuitable for any built development and is expected to remain in use as a car park or some form open space.”
A spokesman for the church said at the time of the original application: “It was fundamental that we were allowed to plan and design adaptable spaces within the new build which would promote worship in comfortable and yet profound areas of the building.”
The tower would be the second major development on Corporation Street in a year, following the construction of the new Premier Inn hotel next door.