A growing church is seeking to build a new gospel hall on grazing land in Rutland.

Ben Whyles, trustee of the Morcott-based Cavendish Gospel Hall Trust, wants to build the hall on land adjacent to 1 Stamford Road, Ketton,.

The 0.1ha site is presently a paddock, which also has the timber frame Springfield Stables.

The application to Rutland County Council said: "It is

proposed to replace the building with a new hall in the same location using rural materials. Three quarters of the site will remain as paddock field.

"The hall is to provide a local facility for local people from Ketton, Empingham and Tinwell serving approximately 50 people.

"The hall will only be used for religious services and instruction and not for any social activities. It will only be used about 10 hours per week.

The trust is part of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. Currently the Stamford Congregation numbers 217 and has been increasing by around 10 members per annum.

This is already leading to overcrowding at nearby halls and the new gospell hall would take families from the surrounding area.

The application continued: "The proposed scheme is to construct a new church hall of 90m2 in the location of

the existing stables.

"16 car parking spaces are proposed using the existing track, improved with passing places.

"The hall will only take up the south east corner and the remaining paddock will be retained.

"The church would be used for religious services only and there would be no social use, hiring out or other ancillary uses."

The application concluded the site and the scheme would deliver a local need for a church hall for families around Ketton. It would reduce overall existing journey trips Luffenham Rad hall.

It added the location was sustainable, being 280m from the settlement boundary and close to a bus stop. It was not an open green field and the hall would replace an existing building.