St Paul’s Church, Witton Park, Bishop Auckland

LOCATION
St Paul’s Church is located on Main Street in Witton Park. Witton Park is situated approximately 2 miles to the west of Bishop Auckland, 12 miles south west of Durham and 14 miles north west of Darlington.

Bishop Auckland has a number of supermarkets, shops, a hospital and restaurants.

The A68 is 5 minutes to the south and the A167 and A1(M) 20-25 minutes to east. Durham and Newcastle have east coast main line train stations with direct links to Edinburgh and London. There are international airports at Teesside and Newcastle.

DIRECTIONS
Head north off the A68 onto the B6282 and turn left towards Pheonix Row, turn right onto Sloshes Lane which leads into Witton Park. Turn left onto Main Street.

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DESCRIPTION
An exciting and rare opportunity to acquire a stone built closed church which has full planning permission for conversion to a detached two storey four bedroom dwelling. The church is a beautiful building set in its own grounds with a garden surrounding the building and a stone boundary wall. The churchyard does not contain any graves or burials. Plans have been approved for conversion into a four bedroom dwelling with an off road parking area for two cars. Internally the building is extremely spacious and retains many original features, with the planning consent providing a large open plan living area to the west end with the bedrooms over two floors to the east end.

Details of the planning information can be found on Durham County Councils Planning Portal, reference DM/22/02035/FPA or obtained from the selling agent. Planning permission was granted on 15th December 2022 and is valid for three years.
The property is being marketed on behalf of the Diocese of Durham and the Church Commissioners for England (charity registration number 1140097). The Diocese shall review and present proposed offers to the Church Commissioners who will act as the vendor.

SERVICES
The property is served by mains electricity, mains water, mains gas and soakaway drainage systems.

COVENANTS
The property is to be sold subject to the Church Commissioners covenants which will be discussed with the purchaser, they will include control over future use and alterations.

The covenants can be obtained from the selling agent.

DESIGNATIONS
The church does not fall within any designations and it is not listed.

The trees surrounding the church have Tree Preservation Orders.

TENURE
We are informed by the current vendors that the property is held freehold.

The church is registered under title number DU383118 and the grounds under title number DU383119.

MATERIAL INFORMATION
It is understood there is standard broadband available and limited mobile phone signal.

METHOD OF SALE
The property is offered for sale as a whole by private treaty.

METHOD OF OFFERING
Any prospective purchasers are invited to submit an
expression of interest providing the following information:
- Proposed use
- Condition(s) the offer is subject to
- Specific items they would like to be included or excluded with the building
- Proposed offer
- Evidence of financial positions for both the purchase and restoration / conversion of the building.

The vendor will determine which if any offers are taken further. The vendor may also seek assurance through a business plan or other information as to the initial long term viability of these proposals. The church commissioners will sanction the disposal and in doing so must undertake certain legal processes under the provisions of the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011, including a statutory period of public consultation, before completing the sale of the property.

On acceptance of an offer a schedule of fixtures and fittings which are included within the sale will be agreed. The vendor reserves the right to remove any fixtures, fittings and stained glass in advance of the agreement in the schedule and thereafter anything which is not in the schedule can be removed without notice in advance of the sale.

COSTS
Each party is to bear their own costs.

MONEY LAUNDERING
Prospective buyers should be aware that in the event that they are successful they will be required to provide documents in relation to the current Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Regulations. The extent of the required documentation will be confirmed to the purchaser(s) after acceptance of an offer.

VIEWINGS
The building can be viewed externally during daylight hours with a set of particulars. Internal viewings are by appointment only which can be arranged by contacting Vickers & Barrass Darlington office on 01325 728084.

LOCAL AUTHORITY
Durham County Council www.durham.gov.uk
03000 26 0000

NOTES
Particulars prepared – April 2023
Photographs taken – April 2023

PARTICULAR NOTES
The particulars are set out as a general outline for the guidance of intending purchasers or lessees and do not constitute, all or part of an offer or contract; all descriptions, dimensions, areas, references to condition and necessary consents for use and occupation and other details are given as a guide only and without responsibility. Any intending purchasers or lessees should not rely on them as statements or representations of fact but must satisfy themselves, by inspection or otherwise, as to their accuracy.
No employee of Vickers & Barrass, Chartered Surveyors has the authority to make or give any representation or warranty whatever in relation to this property nor is any such representation or warranty given by the Vendors or the Lessors of this property.
Any offer for this property will be taken as an admission by the intending purchaser that they have relied solely upon their own personally verified information, inspection, and enquiries.
The photographs show only certain parts of the property. It should not be assumed that the property remains as displayed in the photographs.
Where any reference is made to planning permissions or potential uses, such information is given by Vickers & Barrass, Chartered Surveyors in good faith. Prospective purchasers should make their own enquiries with the Local Planning authority into such matters.
The Vendors reserve the right to amalgamate, withdraw or exclude either of the lots shown at any time and to generally amend the particulars or method of sale.
The property is sold subject to reserve(s).Vickers & Barrass, Chartered Surveyors reserve the right to sell privately without imposing a closing date and do not bind themselves to accept the highest or any offer.
The particulars have been prepared in accordance with the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations to give a fair overall view of the property.