PLANS to demolish a 19th Century church and build a house in its place have been approved despite public objection.

The plans, which went before Selby District Council at a meeting on Wednesday, will see St Aidan’s Church in Stutton, south of Tadcaster, demolished and replaced with a three-bedroom detached house and garage.

The wooden church, which is about 100 years old, and its land are owned by York Diocesan board of finance, and more than 30 members of the public objected to the plans online.

However, a report submitted with the plans said the church had seen “little service in recent years”.

The council’s conservation advisor said the church building had “little archaeological or historic interest”, and “limited harm” would result in its loss.

They said: “The church is not a designated heritage asset.

“Given the late period that the church was built and its rather un-ornate features and lack of direct historical association to any significant event, it is considered that it only has significance at the parish level, and even that is somewhat limited.

Stutton Parish Council said “they felt they would be failing to undertake their obligations to the residents of the village if they did not pursue some form of action”, and were “disappointed and concerned” by the proposals, but accepted a change of use was inevitable.