Plans for a 113-home residential scheme in Birmingham’s Southside have been recommended for refusal by Birmingham City Council over the potential for conflict with a nearby nightclub.
London Development Group lodged plans for a £28.5m, 12- and eight-storey tower on Kent Street, which would comprise one- and two-bedroom flats as well as some 6,600 sq ft of commercial space on the ground floor.
Council planning officers noted the area is “known for its vibrant late-night venues”. The nearby Nightingale Club, which claims to be the city’s “oldest and largest” LGBT venue, is open seven days a week and often closes between 4am and 6.30am.
LDG’s plans include sealed windows to limit noise disturbing residents in 20 of the flats, 14 of which would be fully sealed.
“The high proportion of units with sealed windows would provide poor-quality accommodation,” said the officers’ report ahead of next week’s planning meeting, adding: “In the absence of the sealed windows, the development is likely to result in complaints against the Nightingale, which may compromise its operation and adversely impact on the viability of the gay village more generally.”
The report concluded: “While there would be benefits arising from the proposed development, including the provision of housing for which there is a considerable need within the city, these are not considered strong enough to outweigh the adverse impact on residential amenity arising from the use of sealed windows. Furthermore, in the absence of a suitable noise mitigation strategy, the ongoing operation of the Nightingale would be compromised.”
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