As of 6th April 2016 new legislation will be enforced in a bid to protect the UK’s music venues from planning law.
The Music Venue Trust says:
“Local planning authorities will have to consider noise impacts on new residents from existing businesses under an amended permitted development right.â€
In recent years, permitted development rights have been extended, allowing certain developments and changes of use to take place without the requirement to go through the full planning system.
The implementation of this new legislation is set to prevent residents of such developments complaining of noise from adjoining venues that were there long beforehand. It is thought that London alone has lost 35% of its grassroots music venues since 2007, many are likely to be as a result of noise complaints.
Explained further by the Music Venue Trust:
“The new regulations mean developers are now required to seek prior approval on noise impacts before a change of use from an office to residential building can be carried out.â€
Mark Davyd of Music Venue Trust says:
“We warmly welcome this breakthrough for the UK’s grassroots music venues. This common sense move by the government provides an opportunity for local authorities to use their powers to ensure that live music continues to play a vital economic, cultural and social role in our towns and cities.
“For music venues, this has never been about stopping development or preventing the creation of much needed new housing; it’s always been about ensuring that new development recognises the culture, economy and vibrancy of city centres by building great housing, enabling existing music venues and new residents to live in harmony.â€Â
The legislation, that came about following a meeting with Ministers of the Department of Communities and Local Government alongside the Minister for Culture, Ed Vaizey MP, is just one of a number of amendments. Â The regulations can be read in full here.
*Back to March 2016 Newsletter*
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