Plan to demolish former Royal British Legion club and build four homes

PLANS have been submitted to demolish the former Royal British Legion Club in Formby to build four new homes.

Applicant Matthew Farley has submitted a planning application to Sefton Council to replace the Whitehouse Lane building with the new housing development, after outline planning permission was granted in April.

The application site is located off Whitehouse Lane, Formby and incorporates the former Royal British Legion Social Club (currently vacant), associated hard standing car park and access.

The bowling green located to the north, whilst also owned by the Royal British Legion, does not form part of the development site. The site is bound to the south and west by a mix of two storey semi detached and detached houses.

An existing and well used bowling green is located to the north boundary of the site, whilst playing fields are located to the east separated by the existing car park.

Access to the site is currently taken from Whitehouse Lane, between number 40a and 42 Whitehouse Lane.

Local residents have until Friday, November 17 to share their views on the plans and a decision is expected to be made next month.

The site as it is now

This is the old Social Club which closed down in October 2015

The proposed development would result in the loss of a vacant Social Club on land designated under the Unitary Development Plan as green space and open space under the Local Plan.

Whilst the development would not specifically fit into the definitions of what would be classed as acceptable development, it is recognised that the development would be located on land that is current occupied by buildings and hard surfacing that does not functionally form part of the open space or serve the existing recreational and sports facilities. The loss of the building would not prevent the long term use of the existing recreational and sport facilities.

The applicant has provided evidence which demonstrates that the building has been marketed for a number of years, with limited interest other than for redevelopment and now remains vacant.

In light of the above, it is considered that the principle of the development is acceptable. It is recognised that the access to the site is restricted, however, the Council’s Highways Manager does not consider the proposed development would cause severe harm on highway safety grounds and as such has raised no objections.

Finally, whilst details of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale have been reserved for subsequent approval, sufficient information has been provided which demonstrates that a scheme of 4 houses could be accommodated on the site without causing significant harm to residential or visual amenity. Matters associated with landscaping and drainage can be conditioned. For the reasons set out, it is recommended that outline planning permission be approved with conditions.