PLANS for temporary caravans to act as site accommodation during the construction of a new Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses have been approved.

Proposals were sent in to the council for a temporary change of use of the car park at the Kingdom Hall at Chester Lane, Lea Green.

This is for the temporary siting of three caravans and a toilet cabin to serve as accommodation while a new Kingdom Hall is built at Earle Street, in Earlestown.

Plans for a new Kingdom Hall to replace the current Earlestown premises were submitted in 2022 and later approved by the council.

St Helens Star: Plans to replace the Earlestown Kingdom Hall were submitted in 2022Plans to replace the Earlestown Kingdom Hall were submitted in 2022 (Image: St Helens Council Planning Portal)

The application said plans are for the "temporary siting of three caravans and a toilet cabin to serve as site accommodation for the construction of proposed new Kingdom Hall in Newton-le-Willows.

READ > Plans for 'visually dominating' LED sign at busy gateway to town decided on

"Caravans and cabin to be located in the car park at the St Helens site for the duration of the build at the Newton-le-Willows site."

'No significant impact upon visual amenity'

Recommending approval, planning officer Alex Ball said in a report: "The touring caravans and shipping container will be located to the rear of the existing detached building.

"The proposed development would be screened from the street scene and given the size of the structures would have limited visibility from neighbouring land uses.

"The touring caravans and shipping container are deemed essential to provide accommodation for the construction workers for the new Kingdom Hall in Newton-le-Willows.

"Given the size of the touring caravans and shipping container in relation to the surrounding built form, it is considered that there will be no significant impact upon visual amenity."

Permission was granted.