Live music jazz venue at 42 - 49 St Martin's Lane, London WC2N

What was proposed

The application sought to change part of a gym into a live music jazz venue with seated food and drink service.

“Change of use from gym space (Class E) to a Live Music Jazz Venue with a sit-down food and drink offering (sui generis), on the ground floor part, lower basement and sub-basement.”

“West End Jazz Ltd Recommendation Grant conditional permission.”

Officer report

Main planning issues

The main issues included design, neighbouring residential amenity, servicing and the updated energy strategy.

“The acceptability of the proposed alterations in design terms. • The impact on the amenity of neighbouring residential properties. • The impact of the revised servicing strategy in highways and amenity terms. • The acceptability of the updated energy strategy…”

Officer report

Consultation and objections

The report identified strong objections to servicing and rooftop plant, while officers considered noise controls and management measures sufficient.

“The proposed increase in height to accommodate rooftop plant raises further concerns in terms of both visual impact and noise/harm to the amenity of neighbouring residents.”

“ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES No objections raised. The acoustic report demonstrates that the new scheme will comply with the requirements of the standard planning noise conditions…”

Officer report

Residents’ concerns

Six objections raised concerns about servicing, congestion, noise, disturbance, rooftop plant, pollution and the effect on residential amenity.

“Highways * The relocation of servicing to Poland Street will create a totally logistical bottleneck. * Poland Street is a narrow, constrained arterial route; it is entirely unsuitable for a hotel of this scale (13,489 sqm). * Displaced congestion: Moving servicing here forces heavy vehicles onto Noel, Berwick, and D'Arblay Streets, causing unnecessary traffic flow issues in Soho's narrow street network.”

“Amenity * Noise & Disturbance: Moving "Back of House" activities to Poland Street places industrial noise and refuse collection directly adjacent to residential along Poland Street. *The proposed rooftop plant enclosure creates a detrimental sense of enclosure for north-facing units and poses a significant risk of acoustic disturbance.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Representatives of Blue Note Jazz and Centro Planning spoke in support, while a representative of Westminster Quaker Meeting House spoke against.

The committee’s decision

The committee unanimously granted conditional permission, requiring further details about the smoking area and ticket purchasing.

“RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That conditional permission be granted subject to the Operational Management Plan be amended to include further details on the smoking area and how tickets would be purchased.”

Minutes

Servicing controls

The revised condition required venue servicing from St Martin’s Lane during specified weekday and Saturday hours, with rubbish collection managed separately.

“Late representations were received from residents (8.12.25) (16.7.26) (16.7.26) (17.7.26) and Hop House Freehold Ltd. (8.12.25)(16.7.26). The Presenting Officer also tabled a memorandum which noted the withdrawal of objections not previously reported and revision to the wording of condition 19 to:”

“Condition 19: All servicing to the music venue use must take place from the front of the premises on St. Martin’s Lane and between 08:00 and 20:00hrs on Monday to Friday and 09:00 to 20:00hrs on Saturday only. Servicing includes loading and unloading goods only. Rubbish collection must be carried out in accordance with the measures set out in the approved operational management plan and servicing management plan.”

Minutes