A housing developer is to consult local people over its plans for a former church site in Chasetown.

But the start of demolition of the old St Joseph’s Church in New Street has upset some residents.

Margaret Punnett, of New Street, said she did not think the old church, which dated back to 1883, should have been touched until residents knew what was being planned.

The church was sold by the Roman Catholic diocese of Birmingham after a new St Joseph’s was built in Cannock Road, Burntwood, in 2003.

Now Chasetown-based Cameron Homes are preparing development proposals.

The company has written to residents, explaining that its plans to re-develop the land are at an early stage and it will be carrying out consultation.

Stained glass windows and other furnishings from the church were installed in the new St Joseph’s which was built because repairs to the old  building would have been more expensive.

Cameron Homes’s managing director Ian Burns said they had obtained consent from Lichfield District Council for the church demolition.

He said the building, could not have been retained because of the high cost of maintenance.

He added that the site  “could be for residential or office development or a mixed use scheme involving retail, offices and residential use.”