Plans to reduce the size of a church tower have been submitted after it was issued a dangerous structures notice by the council.
The United Reformed Church in Stowmarket's Ipswich Street believes the most sustainable approach to resolving the significant repairs is to reduce the tower down to just above the level of the main flat roof.
In plans lodged with Mid Suffolk District Council, it said the "striking" mid-1950s building, in Ipswich Street, was issued with a dangerous structures notice in July.
This gives four months for the removal of the unsafe brickwork and requires a structural engineer to inspect the cracking brickwork monthly until it is taken down.
A planning statement said: "A recent quinquennial inspection of this building identified that there are cracks in the corners of the tower.
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"It is evident that this has been an issue in the past as previous repairs to the corners of the tower are clearly seen. After further investigation it is confirmed that the cause of the cracking is corrosion and subsequent expansion of the steelwork built into the cavities of the tower."
A number of repair strategies have been considered, but none are thought to be viable to prevent further reoccurrences.
"The most sustainable approach to address this significant issue is to reduce the tower down to just above the level of the main flat roof of the church building, removing all the steelwork elements causing the problem," the planning statement adds.
"A short portion of the tower would be retaining/re-formed, to provide access to the roof for maintenance. This would address safety concerns of potentially unstable brickwork above public spaces. In addition, it would remove the long-term maintenance problem permanently and make the future use of the building move viable."
It adds the proposal will address a "significant structural defect".
Stowmarket URC Church Secretary Brian Hewitt said: "Since our inspection at the end of last year, meetings with various structural engineers have taken place, and following the notice from the council, which gives four months for the scaffolding to be put in place, we have been exploring ways to preserve the look of the 71 year old church, as close to A D Cooke's original design.
"One of those ways is by reducing the height of the tower, especially in light of the earlier costly repairs.
"Scaffolding will be erected around the tower in the next few weeks as we continue to talk to the council about the next steps and what planning permissions might be needed."
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