Plans for a medieval church to be converted into housing can now get underway after the first stage of renovations was met with approval.

Thetford & Brandon Times: St Mary the Less Church in Thetford will be getting a £350,000 revamp after plans for a housing conversion were approved. Picture: Matthew Usher.St Mary the Less Church in Thetford will be getting a £350,000 revamp after plans for a housing conversion were approved. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © ARCHANT NORFOLK 2015)

Repairs to the church of St Mary the Less, on Bury Road, in Thetford, have been approved by Breckland Council, after proposals to convert the crumbling 14th century site were submitted earlier this year.

Dr Jennifer Freeman, who owns the building, plans to convert the Grade II* listed site into five houses, with one in the church tower, and to retain the stained glass as a feature of the property.

READ MORE: Repair plans first step in converting medieval church into houses

The project will cost around £350,000, and a call for companies to take on the repairs was made in January.

Thetford & Brandon Times: St Mary the Less Church in Thetford will be getting a £350,000 revamp after plans for a housing conversion were approved. Picture: Matthew Usher.St Mary the Less Church in Thetford will be getting a £350,000 revamp after plans for a housing conversion were approved. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: davecarterphotography.com)

The plans, approved by Breckland on Thursday, March 28, are described as: “[The] first phase of work to return of the semi-ruinous tower into safe and secure structural repair, with a new roof and means to exclude the weather, birds and other non-feathered intruders from the church.”

READ MORE: Firms needed for £350,000 revamp of Norfolk church

Thetford & Brandon Times: St Mary the Less Church in Thetford will be getting a £350,000 revamp after plans for a housing conversion were approved. Picture: Matthew Usher.St Mary the Less Church in Thetford will be getting a £350,000 revamp after plans for a housing conversion were approved. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © ARCHANT NORFOLK 2015)