A former bank will be turned into community centre and place for worship.

Christy Idahosa has been granted planning permission to convert the old NatWest branch in Sutton Road, Maidstone into a centre for the Triumph of Grace Ministry, which she founded.

Mrs Idahosa is the Prophetess of the movement. She said the centre would support local residents in numerous ways.

She explained: “It will host a variety of activities including a children’s sensory room, local charity events, youth entertainment, a worship centre, free morning tea and coffee, a radio station, and more.”

When her plans were first submitted, there was some initial confusion that the proposal was for a mosque but Mrs Idahosa, who has lived in Maidstone for 10 years, later confirmed: “This is a Christian-driven project aimed at benefiting the community on multiple levels.”

“We will host a prayer resort which uplifts the broken, brings people to Christ, and takes people from weakness to strength, allowing them to take cognisance and charge over things troubling their lives.”

Although there had been multiple objections to the application, planning officers said that most were “mainly made due to the ambiguity of the plans initially submitted” and some had since been withdrawn.

Use of the building as a community hub was fully in line with national planning policies and would bring a building that had been vacant since NatWest moved out in May last year, and had become subject to vandalism, back into productive use.

Permission was granted subject to Mrs Idahosa first supplying details about refuse collection arrangements, providing secure cycling storage, and the provision of ecology enhancements such as bird and bat boxes.

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Details of the application can be found on the Maidstone council website under application number 24/501815.