Hand car wash plan at former working men's club rejected

Wakefield Council turned down proposals for the Diamond Jubilee WMC site in South Kirkby due to it being within an area allocated for housing.

A report also said the applicant had failed to provide a noise impact assessment to support the scheme.

The club building, on White Apron Street, was demolished in 2017 and has been vacant and overgrown for almost a decade.

A design and access statement submitted on behalf of Ricco Santiago said the new businesses would provide “valuable services to the local community and contribute to the economic vitality of the area.”

The report added: “The site will be organized to ensure efficient traffic flow, with clear separation between the car wash and tyre shop areas.

“The layout will include designated parking spaces, vehicle manoeuvring areas and safe pedestrian pathways.”

A council officer’s report said the scheme had been allocated for housing under the local authority’s Local Plan, which was adopted in 2024 and sets out a strategy for development across the district until 2036.

An application to build five houses on the site had previosly been approved but permission had lapsed due to the development not being completed.

The officer said: “The principle of the proposed development does not accord with the development plan due to the site being allocated for housing which the proposed development would prevent.

“It is considered that insufficient information has been submitted to demonstrate that the proposed use would not have a detrimental impact upon the amenity of neighbouring residential occupiers.”

One letter of objection to the scheme was submitted by a local resident, who said the area was already busy with traffic.

They said: “It’s already a problem getting out from North Street onto White Apron at peak times.

“To then potentially have queuing traffic to get into the car wash will just add to the issue.”