Halfway House pub Southwick



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Sunderland City Council’s planning department has been consulting on a planning application for the Halfway House pub, off Southwick Road.

The building, which sits near the Stadium of Light, was recently put on the market and is being lined up for a new use.

A planning application submitted on behalf of the city council earlier this year sought permission to convert the pub into seven bedrooms and a ‘staff accommodation unit’.

According to supporting documents submitted to council planning officials, the development would be used by males aged 18-25 with complex needs.

It is understood that the development and building would be owned by the council and operated by support provider Changing Lives.

A community consultation statement also confirmed the accommodation would “help vulnerable people who find themselves homeless”, such as those leaving care or hospital, as well as street homeless and rough sleepers.

One objection also came from the Sunderland and South Tyneside branch of the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) about the loss of the public house, which was noted to have been “trading very recently”.
The CAMRA objection added: “As a community facility it should be proven the venue is unviable as a public house before consideration [is] given to reuse.
“Unviability must take into account future potential as well as past performance”.
Northumbria Police, in a consultation response, raised no objection to the proposed development from a “crime prevention perspective”.

However a representation from Southwick ward councillors Michael Butler and Alex Samuels raised concerns about the “sustainability” of the development and how neighbours had been consulted.
The councillors, in a consultation statement submitted in August, 2023, said: “Southwick, as an area, faces deprivation and antisocial behaviour issues, making engagement difficult.
“We expected a more thorough engagement process from the council, providing comprehensive information to residents for informed decisions, especially for those with limited technology access or low engagement.
“The vague wording in the resident letter, citing ‘complex needs,’ compounds these issues.

“If planning permission is granted for the building’s change of use, concerns arise that it might deviate from being supported living to bedsits, negatively impacting the community.
“While supporting the need for supported living, concerns remain about community control over placements and mechanisms for redress in the future.”
A council community consultation statement defined complex needs as a person with “more than one support need”, ranging from mental health issues and learning disabilities to those with substance misuse issues.
The supported accommodation scheme aims to enable people to “move towards independent living”, with people staying at the accommodation on a short-term basis of around three months.
The council has stressed the premises would not be used as a ‘bail hostel’, and that each person referred to the scheme would be risk assessed and would have a “local connection” to Sunderland.
The community consultation statement also said the accommodation would have “24/7 management and support services on site […] ensuring that everyone residing there is supported, monitored and managed appropriately”.
A decision on the planning application is expected to be made this year.
For more information on the planning application or to track its progress, visit Sunderland City Council’s planning portal website and search reference: 23/01387/FUL
 
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MiddleAgedMan said:
Why would camra have much concern, it served shit beer anyway.

The city needs places to care for vulnerable people. Just a lot of NIMBYism here
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No pub, then no possibility of it ever serving good beer, that will be CAMRA's concern.

CAMRA exist to promote the serving of real ale in pubs, without pubs, their work is futile, so it goes without saying they will be concerned at the possibility of another pub going to the wall. And being so close to the SOL this pub should have potential to be a half decent hostelry serving real ale, lets face it, generally the benchmark of a good pub is one that serves real ale, likewise shitholes tend not to.
 
MiddleAgedMan said:
Why would camra have much concern, it served shit beer anyway.

The city needs places to care for vulnerable people. Just a lot of NIMBYism here
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The comments from the locals on FB were a Spot the correct spelling jamboree
My mates Dad had it in the 70s
Great building, they lived on the floor above and the top floor was identical but empty .
 
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MiddleAgedMan said:
Do they not commit burglaries when housed elsewhere or sleeping rough?

Having a stable gone and support on site is likito reduce offending
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Typo home not gone and likely to no likito
PTID said:
No pub, then no possibility of it ever serving good beer, that will be CAMRA's concern.

CAMRA exist to promote the serving of real ale in pubs, without pubs, their work is futile, so it goes without saying they will be concerned at the possibility of another pub going to the wall. And being so close to the SOL this pub should have potential to be a half decent hostelry serving real ale, lets face it, generally the benchmark of a good pub is one that serves real ale, likewise shitholes tend not to.
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Yeah, I understand that really. Needs a lot of work doing to it though and pubs are sadly closing all the time
 
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Not surprised there's opposition, southwick is already a shit hole, doesn't need to house even more trouble teens. Hopefully someone will do it up as a decent pub/restaurant.
 

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