A FORMER village rectory could be knocked down after plans to transform it into an entertainment venue were refused.

Residents breathed a sigh of relief after Basildon Council threw out proposals for weddings and parties to be held at the Old Rectory, in Church Road, Bowers Gifford, because of its greenbelt location back in March.

However, their joy has been short-lived as the owners have now come forward with fresh plans to knock down the building.

The potential demolition has raised concerns about what could replace the building.

Wheelchair-bound Steve Bates, 46, who bought Glebe Cottage, which is next door to the Old Rectory, 12 years ago, led a campaign alongside the Westerleigh Group, which runs Basildon Crematorium and Cemetery, to fight the party venue proposals.

He said: “The Old Rectory is part of the character of the area, I would be sad to see it knocked down. This has all come out of the blue.

“I want the building to be kept as it is, and maybe brought back into use as offices, like it used to be. I also think it would make a nice nursing home because the location is really beautiful.

“The worst thing would have been if it became a party venue, it would have been horrendous and ruined our quality of life.”

The Old Rectory, which was most recently used as an architects’ office, went on the market last year for £725,000 and was snapped up by Barking-based JA Phillips Holdings.

Planning permission was granted in 2013 to convert the Old Rectory back into living accommodation, but the new owners claim the project is “unviable”

because of the raft of changes which have been made to the building in the last 30 years.

Planning agent Simon Wells, from Halstead-based SW Design and Build, said a number of options had been explored which make sense financially.

He added: “The existing building is underused and not fit for office use in the 21st century without very significant modification.

It is neither desirable nor sustainable to retain the existing building without occupation.

“The proposal to demolish offers a way forward that would give an opportunity to create a more sustainable use for the future that complies with Government planning policy.”

Basildon Council will decide on the demolition plans by December.