Late-night bar hours extension at 3-4 Vernon Walk, Southampton

The site and surroundings

The late-night bar is among other venues in an Evening Zone, with residential properties and offices above nearby commercial uses.

“The site is within a designated Evening Zone because it contains a concentration of existing pubs, bars and nightclubs which are either within or close to residential areas. Planning policy seeks to restrict new or extended late night uses in this area to a closing time of midnight.”

“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 on the 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

Earlier permissions and restrictions

A 2015 permission allowed adjoining premises to trade later while restricting this premises to midnight, and a legal agreement controls both sites’ hours.

“Proposal 2.1 In 2015, planning permission no. 15/02217/FUL permitted the Buddha Lounge (3 Winchester St – unit A on map below) to swap their midnight trading hours with the adjoining premises (3-4 Vernon Walk – unit B) so the Buddha Lounge could open later till 2am.”

“A section 106 agreement restricts the hours of use for both premises under permission no. 15/02217/FUL. Had this request for extended hours been supported the applicant would need to vary the S106 agreement.”

Officer report

Main planning concerns

The site would normally operate no later than midnight, while later patron dispersal could increase noise and antisocial behaviour in nearby residential areas.

“Despite their being other late night businesses operating in the area beyond the permitted midnight policy hours up till 3am or later, as resulting from historic planning permissions without hours restriction that pre-dates current planning policy or having established lawful use over the passage of time, the appeal decisions over the last 10 years (listed in section 4 of the report) have not deviated from the Council’s adopted night time economy policy approach.”

“Taking into account the outcome of appeal decisions and the policy approach to manage the concentration of night time uses within Evening Zones located near residential areas, the proposal to extend the hours of use beyond midnight would create a later end to the night time venue. This would lead to more visitors staying in the Bedford Place/London Road area later into the evening and early hours of the morning.”

Officer report

Consultation and representations

Nineteen representations comprised three objections and sixteen supports; Environmental Health had no objection subject to noise and customer-management measures.

“Following the receipt of the planning application a publicity exercise in line with department procedures was undertaken which included notifying adjoining and nearby landowners, and erecting a site notice on 20.06.25. At the time of writing the report 19 representations (3 objections and 16 support) have been received from surrounding residents but only 7 comments are from the same ward as the application site. The following is a summary of the points raised:”

“Consultee Comments Environmental Health No objection Condition recommended to secure implementation of the recommendations in the submitted Noise Assessment to install an internal noise limiting device, measures to prevent noise breakout of the premises, and staff to control excessive noise by customers outside the premises.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Three local residents addressed the Panel, and statements from six named contributors were received, circulated, read and published online.

The vote and decision

The Panel carried the officer recommendation and refused permission, with four councillors voting for refusal and one against.

“Upon being put to the vote the officer recommendation to refuse the application was carried.”

Minutes