HOPES of saving an historic church from demolition have been dashed after a buyer withdrew plans to convert it into a home.

Unless another buyer comes forward, Birch’s St Peter and St Paul’s church spire, which can be seen for miles around south west Colchester, is likely to disappear from the landscape along with the rest of the building.

The Grade II listed building has stood empty for 31 years and fallen into disrepair, and it is estimated it will cost at least £1.9 million to save it.

So when the Diocese of Chelmsford said it couldn’t find a suitable alternative use, the Church Commissioners earmarked the structure, with its unique stone tower and spire, for demolition.

Charity North Essex Heritage, backed by The Victorian Society, the Ancient Monuments Society and English Heritage, had been campaigning for years to save the church when Gary Cottee offered to buy it in 2013.

Colchester Council granted planning permission and listed building consent for the project in 2020.

Now chartered quantity surveyor and builder Mr Cottee has pulled out of the conversion project, citing the church authorities’ delays which have left the 171-year-old building continuing to deteriorate.

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He said there had been a serious deterioration in the condition of the building.

Furthermore, Mr Cottee said the additional remedial and building work, together with increased costs of materials, has sent the estimate for the project spiralling from £1.4 million in 2016 to at least £1.89 million.

Simon Hall, chairman of North Essex Heritage, a building preservation trust, said: “Mr Cottee’s sensitive and imaginative conversion scheme was entirely viable, had planning permission and a huge amount of local support.

“If it had been allowed to happen to a normal timescale, this listed building would have been saved and brought into sustainable use.

“The trust completely understands why Mr Cottee has reluctantly decided not to proceed with his plans.

“The trust’s only hope now is that another buyer is willing to take on the project with its existing permissions.

“We hope at the least the rare and magnificent church spire can be saved if the rest of the building is demolished.”

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Chelmsford said: "The Diocese of Chelmsford and Church Commissioners have been working for over 30 years to find a viable and suitable use for the former church at Birch.

"The latest proposal to convert the building into a family home including part of the graveyard as a private garden has been withdrawn.

"It has now been accepted by the statutory consultees that demolition and the provision of a memorial garden on the site of the former church in the open graveyard is the most appropriate outcome’.