An application to change part of an empty office block into a place of worship has been approved.
The first floor of the two-storey building on the corner of Ballards Road and New Road, Dagenham, has been used by a congregation of Christian worshippers since January 2012 and has received no complaints in that time.
Members of the Development Control Board unanimously agreed the change on March 10.
When Cllr Rocky Gill asked why the application had come forward so late he was told it had arisen only after a planning enforcement officer saw some advertising for a make-shift church during another site visit.
It was understood by the board that there would be a maximum of 50 congregation members on Fridays and Sundays, with about 15 people attending Bible schools and “low volume” prayer sessions during the week.
One Friday a month worshippers were said to hold a vigil until 3am.
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