Plans for flats near music venue thrown out
LDRSPlans for flats near a music venue have been thrown out at appeal by a Government-appointed inspector.
The national Planning Inspectorate dismissed an appeal against Sunderland City Council's refusal for two flats above Dr Q's Food Factory in Holmeside, close to the grassroots venue Independent.
Plans for the one-bed flats were originally refused in November over fears future tenants could be impacted by noise from the venue
The inspector upheld those concerns and concluded it would likely lead to occupiers complaining about the noise which could restrict the venue's operations.
The charity Music Venue Trust objected to the original application and said the "proximity of new residential units to Independent" would "place the future of the grassroots music venue under sustained risk of permanent closure" and "impact upon its ongoing viability."
'Excessive noise'
Council planners had argued it had "not been demonstrated that future occupiers would be afforded an acceptable standard of living in respect of impacts of noise from nearby commercial premises".
Following the council refusal, the applicant lodged an appeal with the secretary of state.
In a decision published on Tuesday, the planning inspector dismissed the appeal and upheld the council's original refusal decision, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The planning inspector noted representations from the Music Venue Trust charity and "the challenges of allowing occupiers to reside in such close quarters of this existing use where the levels of noise can indeed fluctuate and be difficult to control".
It was concluded that residents would likely be "adversely impacted by noise" and that it would lead "to occupiers complaining of excessive noise from Independent which could result in demands for intervention to restrict [its] operations".