St Mark's Church in need of urgent repair work

Published: 27 August, 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

A GRADE-I listed church in Mayfair where campaigners fought off plans for a health spa now looks set to be become a conference centre.

Last night (Thursday) developer George Hammer expected his revised scheme – a compromise with residents and the Save St Mark’s Action Group – to be approved by Westminster Council’s planning committee.

If consent is given, builders undertake urgent repair work before the crumbling building is transformed with “relatively minor alterations”.

It means that St Mark’s would continue as a place of worship open to the public.

A planning inspector rejected proposals to turn St Mark’s Church in North Audley Street into a spa last year, clearing the path for the exiled congregation to return to their former home.

The new proposal represents a dramatic shift in Mr Hammer’s vision for the 19th-century church – a softening in stance following years of wrangling with his Mayfair neighbours, most notably supermarket heiress Lady Sainsbury, over what they claimed were overly commercial plans.

Mr Hammer said: “We have come to a friendly resolution on a way forward for the church. We are delighted with this decision after so many years of indecision and controversy, allowing the building to work its way off the at-risk register and thrive as a vibrant, beloved building.”

Papers drawn up by planning officers at Westminster Council said: “The proposed alterations are much less intrusive than the previous scheme and are considered to be acceptable.

“The applicant has entered a rolling annual licence allowing the Commonwealth Christian Fellowship to use the building on Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day.

This would be in addition to other uses which will help ensure the building is restored and repaired.”

Mr Hammer – who lives next door to St Mark’s and owns two other churches in Marylebone and Covent Garden – bought the lease from the Diocese of London last year.

The Diocese decided it could not generate the estimated £6million to repair the building that has been on English Heritage’s at-risk register since 1988.

In a letter that went before the committee, Lady Sainsbury, wife of former Tory MP, Sir Tim Sainsbury, said: “They [the Commonwealth Christian Fellowship] are well known in the community and are delighted that they can once more serve local people.

On this basis I am now supporting the planning application.”