Sunderland social club site to become shopping complex - despite hundreds of objections

In 2018, city councillors backed outline plans to bulldoze Farringdon Social Club to make way for up to 20 apartments.

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 in the St Chads ward, closed its doors for good in 2017 and has remained vacant since.

This week, applicant Langley Lodge Developments Ltd, won support to redevelop the site as a business park, with around eight units available for a mix of retail, financial firms and cafes.

Minor demolition work is scheduled for the rear of the property under the scheme, which is expected to create around 26 jobs.

A total of 48 car parking spaces, 20 bicycle hoops and five staff parking spaces are planned, along with a new delivery and servicing area.

The existing betting shop at unit six will also be be retained.

During consultation, the plans sparked opposition with 27 objections lodged with Sunderland City Council alongside a 212-signature petition from local residents and businesses.

Concerns ranged from increased traffic and antisocial behaviour to potential impacts on existing local shopping facilities on Allendale Road.

Law firm Ward Hadaway also submitted comments on behalf of client Siglion stating there were more preferable sites for retail uses in the wider area.

According to a council report, Siglion raised concerns about hot food takeaway uses in the planning application, which have since been removed, and the impact of increased competition on other local shops.

In addition, they noted previous planning permission for housing showed alternative uses are acceptable on the site.

Council planning officers, recommending the shopping complex for approval, noted there was no opportunity to accommodate the developer’s proposals elsewhere in the Doxford Park or Silksworth areas.

The plans were approved by Sunderland City Council on Thursday, April 23.

A committee report reads: “In reaching this conclusion it has been determined that there are no sequentially more appropriate locations for the development to be housed within nearby local and district centres, and, that the development is highly unlikely to have a significant adverse impact on the vitality and viability of these centres.

“Further, it has been adequately demonstrated that it would be impractical and unviable to reinstate the social club use and that substantial weight should therefore be given to the urban and economic regeneration of a sustainable brownfield site from one form of community use to another.

“In terms of layout and design the scheme is considered to offer substantial environmental improvements which would facilitate the regeneration of a largely derelict and notably deteriorating parcel of land which is currently having a negative impact on the local area.”

Planners also said the highway network could accommodate extra traffic and added no adverse impacts were expected on nearby properties in terms of privacy, noise or smells.

The proposals were decided under new temporary measures agreed by full council last month in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Planning applications which would normally be referred to the relevant Development Control Sub-Committee for decision by councillors, can now be decided by the council’s executive director of city development.

If there is a conflict of interest, the council’s chief executive can appoint an alternative council officer to determine the application.

The planning decisions are also taken in consultation with the chairperson of the relevant planning committee.

On the Farringdon Social Club application, a council report adds: “Although the concerns of objectors relative to the temporary decision-making arrangements are noted, it is considered that all relevant material considerations raised by the application have been adequately addressed and consequently, there is no material reason to delay its determination via the interim delegated powers.”

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