Late-night club hours at 35 - 41 London Road, Southampton

The site and surroundings

The venue is in a city-centre evening zone among bars, restaurants and clubs, with residential properties and offices nearby.

“The site is within a designated Evening Zone, restricted to midnight opening by current planning policy, because it contains a concentration of existing pubs, bars and nightclubs which are either within or close to residential areas.”

“The surrounding area is characterised by a mix of ground floor commercial uses, with residential properties and offices above. There are a number of residential neighbourhoods located adjacent to the Evening Zone mainly to the west of Bedford Place and east of London Road heading out of the city centre.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended temporary approval because the extra harm was considered limited, safeguards would apply, and the trial could monitor effects on residents and the night-time economy.

“So whilst there will be additional amenity harm to nearby residential properties and wider neighbourhood, such as the Polygon, from the noise and disturbance of patrons arriving and dispersing from the premises later in the early hours of the morning, officers suggest this impact wouldn’t be significant and recommend to the Panel that granting a 1 year temporary permission would be a balanced and pragmatic decision to support the City’s night time economy whilst being…”

“Taking into account the benefits of the proposed development, and the limited harm arising from the conflict with the policies in the development plan as set out above, it is considered that the adverse impacts of granting temporary planning permission would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole.”

Officer report

Consultees’ views

Strategic Planning, Environmental Health, Licensing and Police Licensing raised no objection or supported the temporary extended hours, subject to management controls.

“Consultee Comments SCC Strategic (Policy) Planning team No Objection The site is located within an Evening Zone as defined by Policy AP 8 of the City Centre Action Plan (CCAP). Policy AP 8 is clear that proposals for new development and extended opening hours will be subject to restricted opening times. The latest opening times are set out in table 5 (Latest Opening Hours) in the supporting text to the policy.”

“The proposed extension of the opening hours 2 hours beyond the existing termination hours of 02:00 up to 04:00 on Friday and Saturdays, also up to 04:00 on New Years Eve for a temporary one-year period accords with the pragmatic approach of the Strategic Planning team set out above. An appropriate management plan has also been submitted in support of the application.”

Officer report

What residents said

Six residents objected, citing policy conflict, noise, disturbance, antisocial behaviour, crime, drug activity and risks to women and girls.

“Contrary to the opening hours allowed under adopted the Policy in the City Action Centre Action Plan. Adversely affect the residential amenity of nearby residents as the extended hours will increase noise and disturbance, anti-social behaviour from patrons arriving and dispersing into the wider area and Polygon neighbourhood by foot and taxi from the venue in the early hours of the morning which disturbs sleeping of residents.”

Officer report

Statements received

The Panel received, circulated and read statements from two people.

Panel consideration

The presenting officer reported corrections to the permission reference, proposed hours and condition before the Panel considered the varied recommendation.

“I. Description of development in report should have stated latest 2022 permission being varied. II. The proposed hours of use stated in paragraph 2.1 of the report should have aligned with description of development.”

“The Panel considered the recommendation (as varied with the amended condition) that the application be conditionally approved. Upon being put to the vote the recommendation was carried.”

Minutes

The decision

Planning permission was approved subject to the report’s conditions and an amended condition setting temporary hours for the club and nightclub.

“RESOLVED that planning permission be approved subject to the conditions set out within the report and below:”

“Condition 01: Temporary Permission – extended hours of use (Performance) The permitted uses set out below shall not operate outside of the following hours temporary variation of condition 03 of planning permission ref 20/00367/FUL for extended hours of use of:”

Minutes