THE VALE Council has appointed estate agents Savills to find a new occupier for St Paul's Church in Penarth.

The former church, based on Arcot Street, has been empty since Penarth Amateur Boxing Club was forced to leave the premises on health and safety grounds in January 2011.

The boxing club is now based in premises on Station Approach thanks to the help of a local businessman, while Penarth Gymnastics Club, which was also based at St Paul's, is currently renting premises at an industrial site in Barry.

Both clubs had been hoping to move back into the former church once £250,000 of work was carried out to restore it.

After appointing Savills as marketing agents the council said it was hoping to receive "imaginative, financially viable proposals" that will "provide a new life for the property for the benefit of the local community".

Savills has been instructed to undertake a wide-ranging marketing campaign to identify potential occupiers that will enable the building to provide community facilities, either on their own or as part of a mixed use scheme with other appropriate uses possibly commercial, subject to planning.

Gareth Carter, Director at Savills, said: “St Paul’s is a prominent stone-built structure close to the town centre situated opposite the new Penarth Heights regeneration scheme. There is over 6,996 sqft of accommodation on two levels with a large open-plan front hall.

“It is situated in an area of high density housing where there is a short supply of buildings that could be adapted for a variety of community purposes, or possibly as an opportunity for a mixed use scheme including community/recreational uses along with commercial or other uses that might assist the delivery of a viable scheme.

“I am therefore expecting interest from clubs, society, voluntary groups and entrepreneurs who can come forward with new ideas for consideration by the Council.”

Vale of Glamorgan Councillor Gwyn John, cabinet member for leisure, parks, culture and sport development, said: “The Council will welcome proposals from community groups, social enterprises, entrepreneurs or any other third party.

“This is an exciting opportunity to deliver an imaginative conversion of the church to create space for community uses either as a single use or along with other appropriate uses.

“The preferred bidder will be expected to undertake a refurbishment project to a high standard and I am looking forward to receiving imaginative, financially viable proposals to help provide a new life for the property for the benefit of the local community.”