St Annes Hebrew Congregation is looking to secure its future through a building project which will see apartments constructed on its site.

Shul president Robert Pinkus says the plan is to offer the site to a residential developer, which in return for the transfer, would build a new shul and flats.

Some of these would be available as kosher homes for visitors to the Lancashire coastal resort.

The remaining apartments would be sold or let by the developer.

St Annes has received planning permission for the construction of a new synagogue and nine apartments on its site, which dates back to the late 1950s.

The compact new shul will be more in keeping with the current size (200 members) of the community.

“We were very conscious of the imbalance between the existing building — constructed for a much larger membership — and our congregation. We could foresee a time when the building became uneconomic to maintain,” Mr Pinkus said.

“The new shul will safeguard the future of our congregation for many years to come, both by providing a synagogue fit for purpose and apartments for visitors and residents alike."

He expected the project “to take about 15 months. During the build period we would find a temporary home for services.”

Meanwhile, St Annes has appointed Rabbi Danny Bergson to succeed Rabbi Ephraim Guttentag, who is leaving after four years to join Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue.

Rabbi Bergson — who has served Pinner Synagogue and the Newton Mearns congregation in Glasgow — will start in August.