A POPPY could be etched into the brickwork on the side of new council houses if they are built on the site of an empty Royal British Legion club.

A planning application to demolish the former RBL club on Edgecombe Road in Barton was submitted last week.

The application was made by Oxford City Housing Ltd, a company owned by Oxford City Council, and would see the club replaced by seven houses.

ALSO READ: Police catch car which drove away with exchanging insurance info

The council is seeking planning permission for four two-bedroom homes, two three-bedroom homes, and one four-bedroom home.

The two-bedroom homes could accommodate up to four people each, the three-bedroom homes could accommodate five, and the four-bedroom home could accommodate a total of seven people.

Oxford Mail:

The site of the old Royal British Legion Club. Picture: Google Maps.

The homes would be built in two terraces in an L-shape on the site: one with three houses and the other with four.

The three homes in the northern terrace – including the four-bedroom house – are intended to be rented out, while the other four homes would be put up for sale under shared ownership schemes.

The site, which is owned by Oxford City Council, would also have parking spaces, bike and bin storage, and gardens.

ALSO READ: Drug addict tells Oxford judge 'keep me in prison'

According to a design statement submitted with the planning permission, the council wants to make sure half of the houses are affordable.

The homes would all be between two-storey and three-storey buildings, which according to architects Levitt Bernstein who wrote the design statement, would mean they are all of a similar height to other homes in the area.

Oxford Mail:

A design drawing of the planned homes. Picture: Oxford City Council.

There is room for eight cars on the site, one for each home, plus a disabled parking bay, with visitors expected to park on Edgecombe road.

The RBL club was built in 1963 and has been derelict for approximately four or five years.

As part of the new development, the council would like to commemorate the former location of the club on the site.

ALSO READ: What is the deadline to register as a voter in the general election?

Plans for how to do this have not yet been made final, but will probably include a symbol or writing in the brickwork on the side of one of the new homes.

A design drawing shows that this memorial could include a poppy symbol in the wall, created through recessed brickwork.

A series of public consultations have already taken place.

Oxford Mail:

A Google image of the former club. Picture: Google Maps.

Oxford City Council met with the vicar of St Mary’s Church, which is based next to the former club, in June to discuss the plans.

A public meeting was held on September 5 at St Mary’s Church, where residents living near to the club were shown plans for the new homes.

According to a planning and consultation report submitted with the application, 15 people gave feed after the public meeting, which was largely positive, with neighbours welcoming the planned homes.

Oxford City Housing Limited is wholly owned by the city council and is to increasing the number of affordable homes in the city.