Plan for shops and flats at Scarborough's former Royal British Legion Club

The Bar Street premises, which was home to the charity’s social club, closed in January last year due to financial difficulties caused by falling membership.

Now, Anthony Boyce, of Gingerbread Holiday Lets, Darlington, has applied to Scarborough Council for planning permission to create shops on the ground floor of the premises and two flats above it.

The application states: “As part of the conversion of the ground floor, the works include the formation of two traditional shop fronts to face Bar Street.

“These frontages would be designed to reflect the character of other traditional shop fronts along Bar Street and would significantly improve the visual appearance of the premises.

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“Between the two shop frontages there would be a pedestrian access door leading to an internal staircase to provide access to two holiday lets above the retail units on the first floor.

“The holiday lets would each comprise of a two-bed unit with open plan kitchen/sitting room, shower room and w/c and mezzanine level extending into the roof space.”

The applicant adds that the change would bring more people to the centre of Scarborough.

It states: “Not only do the proposals ensure efficient use of available space above the retail units but the holiday lets would attract visitors to the area that would spend money in the town centre, utilise existing tourism facilities, support local business and contribute towards the vitality and viability of the area."

The plans are now out to consultation.