Plans to convert former Salem pub into flats approved by Sunderland housing bosses

Earlier this year, Sunderland City Council’s planning department received an application for ‘The Salem’ public house in the Hendon ward.

The property, off Salem Street, was formerly known as the Tap & Barrel and is understood to have been vacant for more than a decade.

Although planning permission was granted in 2019 to convert the building into six apartments, construction of the housing scheme was never started.

A new planning application for the site, validated by the city council in June, sought permission to convert the former pub into four two-bedroom apartments over two floors.

The development included the demolition of a flat roofed extension, the removal of a side yard wall to provide both on-site parking and bin storage and new ground floor windows and doors.

A community use statement from the applicant added the plan would remove the “blot on the landscape” by reusing the vacant building as residential accommodation for the benefit of the community.

After considering the application, Sunderland City Council’s planning department approved it on December 12, 2022.

A planning decision report published on the city council’s website said the re-use of the building and regeneration of the site would outweigh the loss of a community facility.

The planning decision report adds: “The scheme will secure the re-development of a vacant and underused building on brownfield land for an appropriate use whilst affording appropriate living conditions for future occupiers without compromising those of nearby residents.

“Matters relating to highways, ecology and ground conditions have also been considered and are deemed to be acceptable.

“The application is therefore recommended for approval subject to the signing of the [section 106] legal agreement and the conditions as listed.”

According to planning documents, the legal agreement will secure funds from developers towards Sunderland City Council’s ‘coastal access management and monitoring measures’.

This contribution aims to “mitigate the impact” of new housing on protected nature sites.

Under planning conditions, the apartments plan must begin within three years.

For more information on the housing scheme, visit Sunderland City Council’s online planning portal and search reference: 22/01258/FUL