Plans to remove two religious statues from the school chapel at Grace Dieu Manor School - and relocate them to the chapel at Ratcliffe College in Syston - have been refused.

The applicant - Charles Gamble of Corby-based Ezra Hatton Limited - says the statues are original to a scheme by Augustus Pugin who made alterations to the chapel for Ambrose Phillipps de Lisle in 1848.

The supporting statement says that the statues would be installed 'within the original chapel - now reception hall - at Ratcliffe College', which was also designed by Augustus Pugin.

The former Grace Dieu Manor preparatory school is a grade II listed building which is now being used by the FCV International Football Academy.

But now North West Leicestershire District Council has refused permission for Listed Building consent for the works to take place.

A council officer's report says: "The proposed alterations would not preserve the building or features of special architectural or historic interest that it possesses. 

"The applicant has not offered a clear and convincing justification for the harm. No public benefit would arise from the proposed alterations."

The report refers to objections made by Edward de Lisle, one of three Trustees of the Grace Dieu & Longcliffe Estate.

The council officer says: "He described the statues as 'important historical pieces original to this property.'

"A member of the public objected at length to the proposal. He said that the proposal would "erode" the historic and architectural value of Grace Dieu. 

"He could not see how the removal of the statues from the chapel 'can be justified'. He described the proposed mitigation as 'ridiculous'.

"Removal of the statues would be contrary to Historic England's standing advice about 'historic fabric' and 'small-scale features'. It would be contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework's advice about the importance of retaining an historic statue in situ.

"The applicant's supporting statement offers limited justification for the harm. It says that 'part of the justification relates to the recent de-consecration of the chapel'. It says that 'the space has the potential to be used for licensed ceremonies' and that 'the religious statuary is potentially unsuited for non-denominational services'. 

"However in August 2021 the superintendent registrar said that 'religious objects are not required to be removed' from a venue licensed for civil ceremonies."