New apartments planned for ex-British Legion Club in Morecambe

Wednesday, 29 January 2025 10:02

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

Plans have been revealed to convert the former British Legion club in Morecambe into apartments.

The former club at 29-31 Edward Street in the town centre was originally due to be demolished.

But a new owner now wants to restore the building, which has been empty for many years.

It was the home of the British Legion social club until the 1990s, and since then has been used for various purposes such as sales, a warehouse and a boxing gym.

A planning application has gone in to Lancaster City Council for 'change of use and conversion of building to 12 apartments (C3) and alterations to windows and doors and replacement roof', with the plans mentioning up to 14 self-contained apartments.

The original building was built around 1893 and was used as a Sunday School associated with the nearby St. Laurence's Church.

"When the British Legion Club on Sun Street was closed in the 1960s, the branch obtained the building on Edward Street, where a Royal British Legion Club Ltd was established," says a heritage statement issued with the plans.

"A planning application was approved in 2016 for the demolition of the building and its replacement with three new houses. This permission was never implemented.

"The site has now been purchased by a new owner who wishes to retain and restore the building, re-purposing it for residential apartments.

"External alterations to the unsympathetic rear extensions to the building will take place, however the frontage will be restored and sandblasted to reveal the original stonework, with any necessary repairs made to the string courses and feature stonework.

"The proposal would create 14 apartments with associated bin and cycle stores."

The plans are for four apartments on each of the ground floor, first floor and second floor, and two apartments on the third floor.

"This application seeks permission for the redevelopment and re-use of a vacant building within the town centre area of Morecambe," says the heritage statement.

"It is considered that this application is consistent with current planning policies and will not bring about any detrimental impacts. It should therefore be viewed favourably by the local authority."

The applicant is Sarah Hurst of Clocktower DPP Limited, of Cockerham.

The full plans can be seen in the planning section of the Lancaster City Council website, reference number 24/01257/FUL.

The council will make a decision on planning permission in due course.