PLANS have been submitted to redevelop a church in Teesdale at a cost of £780,000.

Part of the aim is to make the former Wesleyan chapel at Middleton in Teesdale, built in 1870, more user-friendly for the rest of the community.

The ambitious redevelopment of the Methodist church would involve demolishing the hall and remodelling the chapel interior to provide two storeys.

In 2007, with the building in dire need of updating, a feasibility study was carried out by the church committee’s architectural agents Alpha Plus.

Under the plans, new windows would be fitted at the front of the building along with a new entrance with disabled access.

The present first-floor gallery would be replaced, and a main activity hall would be created, suitable for ball games and meetings.

The scheme includes a kitchen, storage space, toilets on the ground floor and a folding, glazed screen linking the main worship area.

At the north end of the building would be a vestry and meeting room, a wheelchair-accessible lift, stairs and a one-bedroom flat for a member of staff.

Ian Tallentire, a member of the church’s property group, said: “We have tried really hard in planning it so we don’t directly compete with what other village centres are offering.

“We are fairly sure this is something quite different to anything in the upper dale and we have already had some good responses to our plans.

“We hope it will complement what is already available and will be widely used by the community as well as ourselves.”

The church council has raised money towards the cost by selling surrounding fields. Sale of The Manse, the former minister’s residence next to the chapel, will also boost funds.

If permission is granted for the demolition of the old church hall, the land would be sold to provide accommodation for elderly people.

The church council will apply for grants, and the congregation aims to raise £100,000.

Planning officers from Durham County Council will consider the application in the coming weeks.