LIVERPOOL'S planning committee today (Tuesday) gave the go-ahead to amended plans for Wolstenholme Square which ensures a future for its famous clubland occupants, Kazimier and Nation/Cream.
Instead of long term residential units on the square, which were threatening the venues' future existence, the new development will consist of serviced apartments, as revealed by Liverpool Confidential yesterday. These will not stand in the way of the clubs' night-to-night operations.
Until solid plans are submitted, talk of the square’s clubs being bulldozed in 2017 is as speculative today as it was last week
Councillors from Riverside Ward, which includes the square, hailed the decision as a new era for the vital night time economy, and talked of how it could be reconciled with residential developments.
Cllr Hattie Wood told the committee she would be carefully monitoring an indicative master plan which earmarks numerous residential schemes across Ropewalks.
It is important to remember that this plan carries no legal weight. It is no more than a "for instance" list of what could happen, drawn up by parties in the private sector. So until solid plans are submitted, talk of the square’s clubs being bulldozed in 2017 is as speculative today as it was last week.
Steve MunbyNevertheless, both councillors said today's planning application for flats in the square, and the subsequent shockwaves which went around the city when it was revealed by Confidential that the clubs would have to close to accommodate them, had come as a wake-up call. They said it highlighted the need to protect the world famous clubs which pull in hundreds of thosuands of people to the area every year.
There is also greater recognition from the city’s planning department about how to proceed with regard to residential developments around night economy venues.
Nation licensee Steve Fitzsimmons said the club employed 100 people and, along with Kazimier, attracted between 200,000 and 300,000 people to Wolstenholme Square every year.
“Many of those people make a weekend of it, supporting hotels and restaurants and shopping," he said. “We have a good relationship with our neighbours and we also employ our own acoustic engineers.”
Cllr Munby, who as cabinet member for neighbourhoods has responsibility for noise issues, said the application had raised important issues for city centre clubs and venues.
The answer, he said, was to ensure good noise insulation for clubs and residences.
The solution in Wolsthenholme Square – developing serviced apartments – was one answer to the issue.
Still there are many people who see today’s decision not as a victory for clubland, but as a reprieve.
These former merchants' houses opposite the Kazimier and Nation will be turned into serviced apartments, rather than longer term residential units
They will not be comforted by words from the council’s environmental officer who said when a noise complaint is made by a resident, a club saying ‘we were here first’ is not a defence.
The committee heard from civil servant Steve Longworth from Aigburth.
Steve, a DJ and guitar player, told the committee even the amended plans should be kicked out.
“I have been visiting clubs since I was legally allowed to drink, and I have seen over 10 years clubs being forced to close because people have moved in. It has happened in Hardman Street and it has happened in Manchester.
“Local people use their own enthusiasm and drive to create a buzz, and once it succeeds the big boys move in to gentrify areas, and then the complaints start.
“I will predict that within a few years Nation and Kazimier will be forced to close because of complaints. It has happened everywhere else and, no matter what they say, it will happen here.
“What is needed is a complete separation to keep residential developments away from clubs which, by the very nature of their activities, are noisy places. I for one am not reassured by today’s decision.”
Cllr Munby said: “What this has done has brought together the local councillors, residents, club owners and others and we must now move forward for everyone’s mutual benefit.”
Wolstenholme Square
The indicative master plan, spoken about in the application, is, at the end of the day, little more than a developer's wish list.
What we could really do with is a laid down policy from the planning department and the environment department to make it clear to any potential developers that schemes within earshot of night venues have to live with the consequences, and ensure any residential properties are properly soundproofed - at the developer’s expense.
A more important question is why would anybody annoyed by noise move into a clubbers area anyway?
