Appeal for flats next to music venue refused

Planning permission to convert office in Brighton to flats have been refused on appeal by the Planning IOnspector as they are next to a music venue.  Brighton and Hove City Council refused the original application due the potential disturbance from neighbouring venue Alphabet. The Music Venue Trust opposed the original application citing the Agent of Change, along with 60 other people. The trust said: “The proximity of new residential units to Alphabet would place the future of the grassroots music venue under sustained risk of permanent closure, undermining the agent of change principle set out in national and local planning policy. DTA Property Holdings’ agent Wilbury Planning stated noise reduction measures would not restrict Alphabet’s operation. In their decision, planning inspector V Goldberg said the noise survey carried out in April 2024 was limited as the live music finished at 10.30pm when the venue is licenced until 5am and that one day of analysis did not represent the variety of music or a “worst case scenario”. There was also concern about ventilation as secondary glazing as noise reduction measures would require windows to remain shut. See full news story