Newcastle City Council’s planning committee has approved plans to demolish the Royal British Legion Club, once a focal point of the West Jesmond community – though residents have outlined their concerns about what happens next.

The committee approved the plans in a meeting on September 18^th.

The land currently houses the empty Royal British Legion Club building, located on West Jesmond Avenue. The social club operated for nearly 50 years as a community hub and venue for veterans, locals, and private functions.

It closed its doors for the last time December 2022, following years of declining memberships and financial strain.

Planning permission has been granted for a new five-storey residential building, able to house 40 apartments.

Development will be overseen by Modo Bloc, a Northeast based imaginative developer, who are currently undertaking a project in Ouseburn, creating “seven design-led, four-storey townhouses”.

In the planning permission document, the new apartments will include “ancillary residents’ gym at ground floor” but will feature no parking, due to the nearby located West Jesmond metro station, and its transport links to the city centre and beyond.

DPP Planning have worked closely with Modo Bloc, offering consultation pre-application and planning application stage of the project.

They said they were “delighted that the proposals for the former Royal British Legion site received unanimous support from Newcastle City Council’s Planning Committee”.

A permanent resident living on West Jesmond Avenue, Samantha Taylor, told JesmondLocal: “I think it’s a great thing to happen to Jesmond, as no space should be wasted with the population growing as it has in the last few years.”

However, not everyone is impressed with the proposed apartment block.

Amelie Cumming, a third-year Newcastle University student living on West Jesmond Avenue, expressed concern.

She said, “I think apartment blocks would enhance the aesthetic of the area, but I do worry that the building work will be really noisy, especially with me and my housemates living practically opposite”.

She added: “It could also create more traffic and general busyness in an area that’s already overpopulated”.

The overpopulation of Jesmond is a problem that was raised in the original planning permission proposal, with city planners receiving 15 formal objections from surrounding properties.

However, Olivia Oldham, another third-year Newcastle University student disagreed. She said: “It’s an eyesore, but more so it’s wasting space that could actively be used within the West Jesmond community.”

Olivia said: “There’s an evident need for housing and jobs in Jesmond, both of which the land could be used for. I would be very interested to know how competitive the rent prices of these apartments would be, and if it would price anyone out”.

An exact demolition date has not yet been announced for the Royal British Legion Club building, with approval being subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement, meaning developers may be required to provide non-financial measures or financial contributions.

If a satisfactory agreement is not finalised by March 18th, 2027, the application could face refusal unless an extension is granted.

Neither Modo Bloc nor DPP Planning responded to JesmondLocal‘s request for comment.