Birmingham pub landlord’s fears over development impact
A Digbeth pub owner fears potential noise complaints from apartments planned for next door will result in the venue losing its permission to open late.
Firm Tindlesouth Ltd has applied for planning permission to build a five-storey block containing 29 one and two-bed apartments at Moseley Street, Digbeth.
The application including designs by Sjölander da Cruz Architects is due to be considered by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee on August 13.
Objectors have said new tenants of the flats would suffer noise problems as a result of Cleary’s Irish Pub next door – despite council officers’ view noise measures will be adequate.
Following concerns around original proposals, the planned building was reduced in height from six to five storeys while there are now no windows facing the pub.
New plans also include noise mitigation methods via glazing and mechanical ventilation to cut down on sounds from outside bothering residents.
The pub is open until 12 midnight during week nights and up until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays, and features a range of live music acts including rock bands and Irish music.
Patrick Naughton, owner of Cleary’s, said: “We have got a music venue here and we have had complaints from the back of Highgate already.
“I can’t see how people living in the new building are going to sleep if we have music until 3am. It will result in me losing my late licence.”
Comments from an unnamed neighbour objecting to the amended plans have been included in the report to councillors.
These include that residents will “suffer from noise and disturbance” as a result of live music, customers waiting outside for taxis and the beer garden area.
The objector took issue with the latest noise assessment, stating it does not take into account when noise from the pub is at its highest levels, such as during local derby football matches.
The neighbour said: “Noise mitigation measures will no doubt be suggested, however if the application is approved, due to the close proximity of the pub (two to three metres) it will compromise its future.”
The latest plans include 20 cycle spaces and no car parking spaces, and the report notes no objections have been received about parking provision.
Officers recommend the application is approved subject to conditions as well as an agreement ensuring £58,000 is paid by the applicants towards off-site affordable housing.
The report from officers to the committee states: “The principle of residential development would accord with development plan policy at this location whilst the potential impact upon the future residential occupiers, as a result of the adjacent pub, has been considered in great detail and with the conditions attached would be mitigated to an acceptable level.”
The site currently consists of a vacant single-storey industrial building
which has been vacant for two to three years, and was previously used as a vehicle repair workshop.
The planning committee meeting will be held at 11am on August 13 and can be viewed at: civico.net/birmingham
