Church groups made five submissions objecting to the requirement when Parramatta Council's draft development control plan for places of public worship went on display in November and December.

The draft plan is designed to ensure places of public worship are appropriate within their setting and don't have unreasonable impacts on their neighbourhood, particularly in residential areas.

At its first meeting for 2010 on Monday, February 8, Parramatta Council will consider a recommendation to adopt the draft plan.

In their written submissions, the Bishop of Parramatta Kevin Manning, and Mikel Aydin from Parramatta Mission, said restricting capacity to 250 was arbitrary and did not account for special events such as weddings and funerals.

Bishop Manning said it would force churches into non-residential areas.

Phillip Gunning, from St Paul's Anglican Church, said the restriction would limit the financial viability of churches while the headmaster of Redeemer Baptist School, Russell Bailey, said it would prevent schools from meeting for worship and restrict church growth.

The Reverend Keith Hamilton, from Parramatta Mission, Bishop Manning and the Reverend Bruce Morrison, from St John's Anglican Cathedral, had asked the council to defer consideration of the draft plan until they could meet with the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor.

No meeting had been scheduled as the Sun went to press.