There are hopes to bring a new lease of life to a former chapel by converting it into a holiday let.

A planning application has been sent to Carmarthenshire County Council with the aim of converting Bethania Chapel in Glanamman into a residential unit and holiday accommodation.

The disused chapel, located on Brynlloi Road in Glanamman, is a Grade II-listed building. The proposal would see the main chapel developed as a museum/art centre. Meanwhile, the vestry would be converted into a residential unit.

A spokesperson from the application said about the alterations: “The basement will remain as storage area. The vestry will be used as the living quarters with an open plan kitchen/living area, a bathroom and a bedroom.

“The services for the bathroom can be linked directly from the vestry into the existing outside toilet without being on show and destroying the listed building.

“The main hall will be used as open plan living area and studio with its big windows providing the best light.

“The only changes in this area would be to re-position and re-use the pews (All pews will remain in the building) as well as installing a floating floor over the existing steps on the balcony.”

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Declining congregations, lack of funding and high maintenance costs, have forced many chapels to close and to be offered for sale or left to deteriorate.

One trend has been to try and re-use or adapt these buildings for another suitable purpose, while retaining their overall physical ‘ambience’ by retaining as many elements of their historic past as is feasible.

A heritage officer, caring for buildings for their historical importance, said: “Having considered the proposed residential use and works to facilitate the use, I feel that in this particular case that it probably represents the least harmful alternative, in the preserving its special interest, its architectural and historic character as far as possible, and providing a viable use for the building.

“The intention of the proposed works should ensure that the building has a viable new use and is maintained in a good condition.”