PLANS to demolish a York social club and turn it into housing have been opposed by local councillors.

RHW Developments Limited has submitted proposals to replace Burnholme Social Club with 28 houses and nine flats, with a new club which is cheaper to run being included in the scheme.

Heworth councillors Ruth Potter and Barbara Boyce said the site would be overdeveloped and there would be little “amenity space” for residents, while police had raised safety concerns about the design of a play area.

Coun Potter said: “As well as being a very unsustainable plan given it involves the demolition of the existing building, this proposal is weak in a number of other respects. It is high-density housing which is out of keeping with the immediate area and the play area is poorly designed.”

Coun Boyce said the application needed “a rethink”, saying the building had historic and local interest and she believed many people would be “surprised” it was earmarked for demolition.

RHW has said the building is a financial strain on the social club and is not listed or in a conservation area.