Royal British Legion clubhouse to be bulldozed for flats

By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter

A Royal British Legion clubhouse that held “loud late-night parties” is to be bulldozed for flats.

The hall in Eddystone Road, Lewisham will be replaced with six apartments in a three-storey building.

The ground floor of the new building will be home to a smaller community space, but playing music there will be banned.

The clubhouse set to be demolished hasn’t been used by the Royal British Legion for four years.

Councillor Jacq Paschoud, chairman of the planning meeting, suggested scrapping the condition to ban music from being played in the new community hall.

But other councillors disagreed due to neighbours’ concerns about noise. The ban was ultimately kept.

Speaking in support of the plans, Christopher Smith, the Royal British Legion’s agent for the application, said the current building was no longer fit for purpose.

He said: “Due to the decline in clubhouses in general this property has been vacant for approximately four years.

“Whilst it is secured and protected, it has suffered numerous thefts and break-ins. It is also suffering from subsidence and has structural defects.”

An all-Labour Party planning committee approved the development plans.

Picture top: CGI of planned flats and community centre at Crofton Park (Picture: Lewisham council)