Sheffield nightclub site may become church

The DQ nightclub on Bowdon Street was put on the market in January after closing its doors in December and now planning permission is being sought to give the building a new - and very different - lease of life.

Christ Church Central, which owns Egerton Hall opposite the former club, wants to take over the site as its current building is too small for its Sunday services.

It is also intended the building would be used for baby and toddler groups, pregnancy counselling and youth and family work during the week.

A statement in support of the plans said: “The proposed use would be an improvement on the previous use which was objected to substantially the last time it was granted permission to continue to be used as a nightclub for a further two years in 2015.

“A church would be a better neighbour to the existing nearby housing and the newly built apartments in the area.”

The evangelical Anglican organisation - which describes itself as a ‘church for people who don’t go to church’ - has previously held meetings in DQ, as well as other non-religious buildings in Sheffield.

The planning statement said: “The church has met at several venues in the city centre during the last 12 years and we have never received complaints from nearby local residents about music being played too loudly or members of the church making noise on the street after services.”

A decision on whether to grant the application will be made by Sheffield Council planners by mid-July.