AN eyesore building in Droitwich looks set to finally be demolished after new plans to replace it with flats were approved by the council.

Wychavon District Council had approved plans to knock down the former Royal British Legion club off Salwarpe Road in 2021 and replace it with a block of 22 flats.

But developer Liberty Holdings came back with revised plans for a three-and-four-storey building with 27 apartments.

Those proposals have now been approved by planners, despite opposition from neighbours and the town council.

FLATS: The club will make way for 27 apartmentsFLATS: The club will make way for 27 apartments (Image: Zebra Architects)

One of the concerns raised by residents is a lack of parking at the development, which proposes one space for each flat plus one shared visitor parking space.

Liberty Holdings admits in its own planning statement: “The parking allocation falls slightly short of the local authority requirement, although the site is adjacent to a train station and also sits within a short walk from the town centre.”

Neighbour Lynne West said: “There would be insufficient parking for the flats. Our estate already experiences difficulties with commuters parking here instead of using the train station car parks, this would simply make the situation worse.”

Rebekkah Ridge-Williams said: “Droitwich does not have the current infrastructure to support this extra level of housing. We have two huge housing sites recently built, which is causing enough of an issue.

“Can we not use this space for a better resource? A place for veterans, a social club or a restaurant?”

DESIGN: The flats will be accessed from Salwarpe RoadDESIGN: The flats will be accessed from Salwarpe Road (Image: Zebra Architects)

Kevin Kemp said the flats were a good use of the site but added: “I think [there are] too many properties with the additional lofts and probably [there will be] unbearable heat in summer, without additional cooling.

“I would like to see solar panels for hot water usage, solar light tubes for bathrooms, hallways and kitchens, more than two EV bays and provision in place for expansion.”

In its planning statement, Liberty Holdings says the apartments are “a modern spin on a traditional plinth apartment block”.

Approving the previous plans three years ago, councillors had raised concerns over the flats being next to the busy Salwarpe Road and a fuel storage site.