Former Sunderland social club set to become business park with cafes, takeaways and shops after housing plans fall through

A former Sunderland social club once earmarked for demolition is set to be given a new lease of life as a business park under new plans.
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Councillors backed outline plans in 2018 to bulldoze the former Farringdon Social Club to make way for up to 20 apartments.

This included an agreement to channel developer funds towards nature areas and new play equipment or park improvements.

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That included £34,060 to mitigate potential effects on protected nature areas, and £14,020 to provide new play equipment or improve existing play parks in the area.

The former Farringdon Social ClubThe former Farringdon Social Club
The former Farringdon Social Club

But despite being welcomed at the time, the plans never came to fruition, with the housing application shelved late last year.

The social club, off Anthony Road, closed in 2017 and has remained vacant since.

The meeting to discuss the housing application in 2018 heard reminiscences on the long history of the club, which was once filled with 1,000 people at a time.

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Now, Langley Lodge Developments Ltd hope to redevelop the site as a mix of retail and commercial units to serve the community in a different way.

The former Farringdon Social ClubThe former Farringdon Social Club
The former Farringdon Social Club

A planning application, submitted to Sunderland City Council, aims to repurpose the buildings on site offering around eight spaces for businesses.

Future tenants could range from retail and financial firms to cafes and hot food takeaways.

According to planning documents, the revamp could also create up to 26 jobs on the site.

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A community facility assessment prepared for the applicant, notes the “unkempt appearance of the buildings and external areas.”

The former Farringdon Social ClubThe former Farringdon Social Club
The former Farringdon Social Club

It adds there is a “clear and pressing need to regenerate the site and bring it back into active economic use to deliver social, environmental and economic benefits for the local community.”

Under the change of use proposals, some minor demolition work would also take place at the rear of the property with parking facilities and cycle racks provided on site.

The existing betting office at unit six would also be retained.

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Comments on the plans can be made in writing to the council by Wednesday, February 5.

A final decision on the development is expected by early March.

For more information on the plans, visit www.sunderland.gov.uk/online-applications and search planning ref: 19/02122/FUL