Inspector backs council ruling over former Blackpool social club

Daneets Developments Ltd had lodged an appeal after being refused permission by Blackpool Council to build three flats inside the roof space of the former Duple Social Club building on Bond Street in South Shore.

The property, whose Jacobean style design is visible above ground floor level, is locally listed because of its heritage value.

An independent planning inspector threw out the appeal saying the scheme would “fail to reflect the qualities and character of the building which are worthy of retention. ”

In a written decision notice, he said this coupled with “the absence of other benefits arising from the proposals” would “result in harm” to a heritage asset.

An application to convert the bulk of the building into seven flats, following the closure of the social club, was approved in 2018 and work is underway.

But the council refused a further application for three more flats in the roof space saying “the proposed dormer windows and roof lights would harm the historic character and design of the building.”

In documents accompanying its application the developer had maintained the investment would “improve the area’s residential offering with a sympathetic design approach while maintaining the beautiful sandstone facade”.

The property was built in 1910 as a public meeting hall and retains many of the original features

The Duple Club had been on the site since 1966 and was founded as a social club for workers at the nearby Duple coach builders factory.

But by 2014 membership had fallen to around 170 people from around 400 four years before.

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