Apartments planned for ex-social club

A former social club in Hendon could be revived as an apartment complex if plans are given the green light next week.

Sunderland City Council’s planning department has recommended housing plans for approval at the Ivy Leaf Club and Institute off Suffolk Street.

Previous plans submitted earlier in 2020 aimed to convert the vacant building into around 20 apartments across three floors.

However, the plans have since been amended reducing the total number of apartments to 13 and adding windows at the side of the building.

The application is due to be decided by the city council’s Planning and Highways (East) Committee at SunderlandCivic Centre on Monday.

A planning report prepared for councillors on the committee states the benefits of the development would outweigh the loss of a community facility.

The report reads: “In terms of the principle of the proposed development, officers consider that the benefit of bringing a long-term vacant building back into use would outweigh the harm caused by the loss of a community facility.

“Especially given that the provision of apartments would otherwise be a sustainable form of development.”

Developers have said that the apartments would be well-connected to local facilities and public transport, with parking also available in the wider locality.

Approval would be subject to a section 106 agreement between the council and the applicant to help reduce the impact of the new housing.