Falkirk Council has given its blessing to plans to turn a former parish church into a house.

Colin Anderson lodged an application with local authority planners on November 21 last year, looking for permission – and listed building consent – to change the used and convert Carriden Parish Church, in Carriden Brae, Bo’ness into a house.

Falkirk Council granted permission on Friday, October 16.

The former church was built in 1908 and is said to be a simple “Romanesque” structure, featuring a four stage tower with a pyramidal stone spire at the west end of the building.

The application had been lodged with Falkirk Council (Picture: Submitted)

placeholder image — The application had been lodged with Falkirk Council (Picture: Submitted)

Back in April 2021 police investigated an incident which caused the stone wall at the entrance of the Carriden Brae church to collapse.

The damage, believed to have been caused by a vehicle striking the wall overnight, was discovered in the early hours of the morning.

A few years later Carriden Parish Church was dissolved as a separate congregation and had its parish area conjoined with St. Andrew's Parish Church. The dissolution took effect on December 31, 2023.

According to the online planning documents, Mr Anderson plans to “change as little as possible” of the premises when he creates a “single private dwelling” for

himself and family.

The documents state Mr Anderson has been an antique and fine art dealer for many years, as well as a property developer, founder and current owner of Bo’ness Motor Museum and founder and current owner of C.W. Anderson and Sons Funeral Directors.

The documents stated: “Community is very important to him. He would be intent on keeping Carriden Church building unmolested and as intact and original as possible.”