A controversial planning application has been lodged to transform a church hall into homes.

If the plans go ahead, Holy Trinity Church hall in Hermon Hill, South Woodford, will be converted into nine residential homes and a new hall will be built from scratch next door.

The plans were presented at a public meeting which offered parishioners the chance to look over designs.

The architect’s plans were revised to convert the old Trinity Hall, rather than demolish it, as was previously intended.

There was a mixed reaction to the plans with some parishioners being delighted with plans to build a brand new hall, while others were unhappy that the historic hall will be turned into homes.

After the meeting, Rosemary Gibbard, who has been worshipping at the 1889 Victorian hall since 1968, said: "It is ungodly. It should be the church-goers who have the last say but nobody has listened to me.”

Speaking today, Reverend Robert Hampson said he was hoping the application was accepted by Redbridge council.

He said: "Nothing has changed and we haven’t heard anything from the council yet. We lodged the application and are just waiting to hear the result.

"I want to reassure residents that the old hall will look the same from the road. It is not going to be knocked down or changed architecturally.

“The move is really needed because the hall is falling apart and will give us a completely new one, this discussion has gone on for so long, we just want to get plans accepted now."

The consultation period on the plans ends on October 16.