Demolition approved for 'eyesore' social club

The club used to be the home of the Washington Royal British Legion branch

Plans to bulldoze a former social club to make way for housing have been given the green light.

The redevelopment will see the site of the former British Legend building in Washington - which has been vacant since 2020 - demolished.

The applicant claimed the building was "beyond reasonable repair" and an "eyesore", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Sunderland City Council said the loss was "regrettable" but justified because the building was "deteriorating and attracting anti-social behaviour".

Quotient Developments Ltd acquired the freehold of the Tyne Gardens site in 2017.

It said there had been four failed attempts to operate the business as a leisure facility and it would need a "substantial amount of investment".

Anti-social behaviour

Developers confirmed they were aiming to "make the best use of the site in a way that would least impact the nearby residents and best improve the local aesthetics".

The council said it was confident the redevelopment would address anti-social behaviour in the area.

Supporting statements submitted to the council last year added: "Demolishing the building and replacing it with modern more affordable housing is, in our opinion the best option for the future."