A former jazz club in the heart of Uplands could be turned into a 15-bed home.
The St James Club, on St James Crescent, opened in 1947, having previously been known as The Liberal Club, a venue where Dylan Thomas would visit his friend and composer Daniel Jones.
For years it was home to Swansea Jazzland but it closed at the end of 2018.
Now a planning application has been submitted to Swansea Council, proposing its redevelopment into a 15 bedroom home of multiple occupation (HMO).
The application, however, is likely to face opposition.
Uplands councillor Irene Mann said: “This is a ridiculous application. It is total over-intensification of the area, in terms of lighting, view, the juxtaposition of the living quarters and the living area.
“There is also the impact on the area, where it is already impossible to park.
“And it is in Uplands Conservation Area which will have implications.
“Petitions are already out against it, and I’ll be fighting it to the end. I am calling it in to planning committee”.
The St James Club hosted Swansea Jazz Society, now known as Swansea Jazzland, which is behind the annual Swansea Jazz Festival, since the early 1970s.
It hosted a range of musical artists, including Bill Bruford of King Crimson, Shakatak and Humphrey Lyttelton. Michael Jackson’s brother Randy visited on a number of occasions.
But like many other venues, it faced difficult times over recent years, leading to its closure at the end of 2018.
Paula Pritchard, whose father Gordon was treasurer of the St James Club for 40 years, said: “It was a sad demise, and people were sorry to see it close.
“It was a perfect venue, and had great acoustics.
“It was a place for an older generation to go and socialise and it served the test of time. Members were sick to see it go”.
