Plans to demolish St Paul’s Church Hall in Chippenham and sell the land to housing developers were approved by Wiltshire Council’s planning committee yesterday, by six votes to four.

The church council will knock down the Malmesbury Road hall to make way for five terraced three-bedroom houses.

Church warden Martin Ellett said it had been 21 years coming. He said: “We are seeking to have most of the activities within the church, including parenting by the Rise Trust.

“The idea is for the church to be open seven days a week, rather than closed six days.”

He told the planning committee: “We are hampered by these facilities. The heating bill is astronomical this time of year. We spent £400,000 on the church roof and heating recently so we are fairly cash strapped.”

Coun Chuck Berry said: “This is probably the most charitable development you might find. The profit goes to St Paul’s and its very good work in the community.”

When plans were first announced they met with an outcry by the several community groups who use the hall.

Laura Graham-May, the founder of one of the groups that meets there, Chippenham arts company Rag & Bone Arts, started a petition objecting to its closure that has been signed by 338 people.

Ms Graham-May said: “It will be another nail in the coffin for Chippenham to turn St Paul’s Hall into flats.

“There are plenty of places to live, and not enough spaces for recreation. We are in danger of becoming a soulless, ghost town if more people move in, but continue to get on a train or in to their cars for all of their entertainment and cultural needs.

“You need to be able to make a lot of noise in dance, and to spread out, which not many venues can offer you. Chippenham needs to look after its community and provide chances for them to work and play together.”

The church council had wanted six or seven houses but were persuaded by the architect to reduce this to five. Some of the planning committee preferred four.

But Coun Desna Allen said: “I don’t support reducing to four. There’s a great demand for single and couples for low cost housing.”