A 2,000-capacity live music venue in the West End has been given planning permission, ending a 10-year absence of major music venues in the area.
Iceni Projects secured consent on behalf of Consolidated Developments for the basement venue at St Giles Circus, W1. The last major music venue in the area, the London Astoria, closed in 2007.
The venue is part of the £90m, Orms-designed St Giles Circus redevelopment that originally gained planning consent in 2015. It includes two new buildings on St Giles High Street, Andrew Borde Street and Charing Cross Road, W1, as well as the refurbishment of two listed buildings on Denmark Place.
Plans for the larger of the two new buildings on St Giles High Street include a separate, 800-capacity, music venue in the basement alongside 100,000 sq ft for brand launches and exhibitions. The smaller, 50,000 sq ft building will include shops, leisure space, and offices as well as a rooftop bar.
The plans for St Giles Circus were approved in 2015 by Camden Council subject to a number of operational restrictions. Iceni Projects has worked with the council in an effort to relax controls to make the project possible.
Anna Snow, director, Iceni Projects, said: “This part of London has been crying out for a large, live music venue for years. It will be a boost to the night-time economy, something we know is a priority for London’s new mayor.
“With the 24-hour Tube up and running, and Crossrail expected to be completed in two years, the infrastructure is in place to cope with the venue. We are glad that Camden Council agreed that the time was right and has relaxed its initial restrictions.”
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