Extended pub hours at 10 - 16 London Road, Southampton

What was proposed

The application sought one year’s permission for later Friday, Saturday and New Year’s Eve opening, while keeping earlier hours on other days.

“Proposed development: Implementation of planning permission ref 07/00190/VC not in accordance with condition 2. Variation to condition 2 (opening hours) sought to vary the opening hours to 07:00 to 00:00 Sunday to Thursday and 07:00 to 01:30 Friday, Saturday and New Years Eve for a temporary period of 12 months. (Departure from Local Plan). Application number: 26/00218/FUL”

“Reason for granting Temporary Permission The development is acceptable taking into account the policies and proposals of the Development Plan as set out below. Other material considerations have been considered and are not judged to have sufficient weight to justify a refusal of the application, and where applicable conditions have been applied in order to satisfy these matters.”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The site is a public house in a city-centre evening zone surrounded by commercial uses, homes and offices, with nearby late-night venues.

“This city centre site comprises of a Public House known as ‘The Giddy Bridge’. It is currently permitted in planning terms to operate 07:00 to 00:00 Mondays to Sundays. The site is located amongst a group of night time bar, restaurant and club venues in the Bedford Place and London Road area. The premises currently has a premises license to operate between the hours 07:00 to 01:30 Monday to Thursday and Sunday and 07:00 to 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.”

“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 closeto residential areas. The closing hours of the late night venues nearby range from midnight to 3am. A number of the premises have historically operated lawful late night hours without the need for planning permission and, therefore, have unfettered hours of use.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended temporary approval because the night-time economy benefits, management plan, monitoring and consultee responses outweighed the limited policy conflict.

“This planning application seeks to extend the existing trading hours of a late night venue from 00.00 to 01:30 am on Fridays and Saturdays (alongside New Years Eve). Whilst the proposed opening hours until 01:30 are a departure from CCAP policy AP 8 for the London Road area, the principle of extending the approved hours of the existing use is considered acceptable for a temporary 1 year period as part of a review of planning policy relating to the late-night economy.”

“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

What consultees said

Police, licensing, environmental health, strategic planning and the Section 106 officer raised no objections to the temporary opening-hours proposal.

“Consultee Comments Police Licensing No objection to the application The Area manager made contact with the police months ago informing us of the planning application. The venue is part of a large chain and is well run, we have regular meetings with the area manager and the DPS of the venue, who have always worked with the police.”

“Section 106 Officer No Objection As this extension of opening hours further into the Late- Night Economy forms part of a temporary allowance we will not on this occasion be seeking a contribution toward the Late-Night Community Safety Obligation.”

Officer report

What residents said

Six residents objected over noise, disturbance, antisocial behaviour, deliveries, barrels and bottle disposal, while one supported the local social and economic benefits.

“The proposed changes are a positive step for the local area. Our city has seen a noticeable decline in nightlife and social venues in recent years, and spaces like this pub play an important role in maintaining a vibrant, safe, and sociable community. They offer places for people of all ages to meet, relax, and participate in local life, which is essential for social cohesion and community wellbeing.”

“The proposal will continue to adversely affect the residential amenity of nearby residents. The extended hours will increase noise and disturbance, anti-social behaviour from patrons arriving and dispersing into the wider area and Polygon neighbourhood from the venue in the early hours of the morning. There is already significant noise from deliveries and the movement of barrels, and the disposal of bottles detrimental to the amenity of nearby residents.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Local residents and the applicant’s representative addressed the Panel with the Chair’s permission.

What members debated

Members raised glass waste and beer-keg movement, leading officers to add a condition after agreement from the applicant’s representative.

“The presenting officer reported an update with the addition of a new condition in relation to glass waste disposal.”

“During discussion on the item, members raised the issue and, following verbal agreement by the applicant’s representative, officers agreed to amend their recommendation by the inclusion of an additional condition regarding Glass Waste Disposal and Movement of Beer Kegs to protect the amenity of the occupiers of the neighbouring dwellings as set out in full below (condition 9).”

Minutes

The vote

The Panel unanimously carried the amended recommendation for conditional approval.

“The Panel then considered the recommendation that the application be conditionally approved subject to criteria listed in the report. Upon being put to the vote the recommendations as amended were unanimously carried.”

Minutes

What was decided

Planning permission was approved with the reported conditions, amended opening-hour wording and an additional overnight restriction on glass disposal and beer-keg movement.

“The extended hours hereby permitted shall cease on or before a period of 1 year from the date of this planning permission. Reason: To enable the Local Planning Authority to review the special circumstances under which planning permission is granted for the development and in the interests of residential amenity.”

“Notwithstanding the submitted management plan all glass disposal associated with the use between the hours of 21:00 and 08:00 shall be carried out inside the building only. Glass shall not be disposed in the external waste facilities during these hours. Furthermore, the movement of beer kegs shall not take place outside of the building between the hours of 21:00 and 08:00.”

Minutes