All three planning applications submitted by developers Ballymore for St Lawrence's Church were approved at last night's planning meeting.

The go-ahead has been given by Hounslow Council's Planning Committee for:

- A six-storey building (plus ground floor) of 18 flats, landscaping, public open space etc.

- Change of use of church, erection of a new building for health and fitness use, construction of swimming pool facilities etc.

- An application for listed building consent to change the use of the church to retail, business, and community and leisure use, and external and internal alterations to the listed building.

Although not a planning matter, the committee wished to be assured that burials, including the two Commonwealth War Graves would be treated with the utmost respect and dignity.

Community group Brentford Voice say they have records of 10,800 burials within the site between 1579 and 1968 and the actual total from the church's inception is likely to be close to 12,000.

It is estimated that the number of exhumations that will be required to build the block of flats will approach 200 individuals.

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