Stonegate Group bid to knock down old meeting place approved.

A decrepit structure that once served as a Royal British Legion meeting place in the city is slated to be demolished to make way for a new house.

According to proposals made by pub chain Stonegate Group, the bungalow on Thunder Lane, which has been vacant for eight years, will be converted into a three-bedroom house. The Thorpe St Andrew Legion used the structure until 2017.

Plans have been authorised to convert a bungalow at the pub into a home (Image: Adrian Judd).

It is situated on grounds adjacent to the Cottage, which Stonegate operates. According to design papers, the pub’s agents stated that “the existing property is neither suitable nor viable for its current use.”

Three neighbours opposed to the plans after they were submitted, fearing Stonegate Group would be granted permission to build more dwellings on their property.

The current condition of the bungalow near the Cottage (Image by Michael Collins Architect) A neighbour complained:

“My other concern is with the grounds of the Cottage being extremely large and if this proposal gets the green light, it would give the brewery land owners the green light to apply for more planning permission in the future.” Some people were concerned about the new building’s impact on their privacy.

A single person commented: “This does cause my family and I great anxiety due to the close proximity of the proposed dwelling to our garden and house.”

A typical illustration of how the house will look (Image: Stonegate Group). “The house will cause considerable disturbance for the whole duration of the build, impacting us as a family when using our home and garden.”

However, Broadland District Council planners contended that the designs’ benefits outweighed their drawbacks.

They stated that there will be economic benefits both during the construction period and from increased future local spending.

“The site is considered to be in a sustainable location for new housing and within easy reach of various local services and facilities.” The plans have already been approved by Broadland District Council.