Ex-social club to become flats despite objections

Chaucer Close Social Club in Sheffield closed last year

Proposals to convert a former family social club into seven flats have been approved despite objections from local residents.

Redevelopment plans for the Chaucer Close Social Club in Sheffield received 12 objections from residents, who raised issues over parking, noise, disruption, safety and loss of green space.

One resident said they opposed the plans “due to ongoing anti-social behaviour, drug-dealing, prostitution and excessive vehicles, which are already obstructions to essential services”.

However, Sheffield City Council's planning committee approved the plans, with the owner and developer stating that crime in the area had gone down and there was “a great need for affordable rentals”.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, one objector had said they could not describe how “vehemently” they opposed the plans for the former club, which had been closed and reopened several times before the business eventually ended after Covid.

But at the planning committee meeting, councillor Mark Whittaker said the redevelopment of the church next to the social club, where 17 flats had already been built, had been “very tastefully” redeveloped.

He recommended the social club building be brought up to the same standard.

Planning officers said two trees would be felled as part of the development, adding that replacements would be planted later.

All planning committee members voted in favour of the application.

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