CLUBS in and around Liverpool’s famous Wolstenholme Square have been saved, on the eleventh hour of a meeting that would have signalled their end.
Instead of agreeing to the venues being closed down for good, Tuesday's city council planning meeting will make a decision that will give a more secure future for Wolstenholme Square, and, namely, its best known music venues, the Kazimier and Nation, home of superclub Cream.
Following Liverpool Confidential's revelations that the two venues were set to close for good, crisis talks tonight (Monday) involving local councillors, club owners, freeholders and developers, have led to a surprise resolution
Instead of Georgian houses between the square and Duke Street being turned into long-term occupancy flats, the developers have now agreed that they will become serviced apartments.
And that is a distinction which makes all the difference between the much loved venues going or staying.
Planning officers at the council say this will remove a proposed condition requiring all the clubs in the square being closed down before people are allowed to move into the flats.
After talks with the freeholders, these buildings will now become serviced apartments rather than residential flats, which makes all the difference to the Kazimier and Nation's future
Tonight Cllr Steve Munby, one of the three councillors for Riverside Ward, and a member of the council’s cabinet, was jubilant.
He said: “We have reached an agreement that suits everybody, and it means Wolstenholme Square’s famous nightspots are secure.
“I’d like to thank Liverpool Confidential for highlighting the threat to the square’s night time economy. When we saw the application to turn the former merchant houses into apartments it seemed to be a good scheme.
“It was only when our attention was drawn to the implications we realised we needed to act very quickly.”
The application contained conditions, relating to potential noise nuisance complaints for occupants of the proposed apartments. The most serious imposed the requirement that the nightspots would have to close for good.
Cllr Munby told Liverpool Confidential tonight: “Our planning officers have agreed with the developer that the residential aspect of the scheme will be serviced apartments.
“Because of this they are prepared to lift the condition which potentially affected the operations of Cream and Kazimier.
“What started off looking like a car crash has turned into a really good outcome for everybody. Residents, clubs and councillors came together in a common cause. The owners have put forward a clever compromise. The planning officers have responded quickly and smartly. It’s a triumph for creativity and common sense. Everybody wins!”
A Cream spokesman said tonight: “Great news. Thank you everyone. The staff will be very happy.”
Cllr Munby praised the city’s planning department for coming up with ‘a sensible and creative solution’.
The meeting at the town hall on Tuesday morning will go ahead, but instead of the expected battle for the square, there will be a celebration.
Nevertheless, the master plan for the square remains and that may eventually see the two venues redeveloped. See here
ANALYSIS: Larry Neild at Liverpool Town Hall says developers wanting to build near clubs should have to live with the consequences, not the other way round. More here
