Main Image: Suki10C Live Music Venue, Digbeth. Courtesy of West Midlands Combined Authority
The Birmingham Local Plan will shape how the city will develop over the next 20 years and will set out a vision, spatial strategy and planning framework that will be used to guide decisions on development proposals and planning applications.
It will also impact how planning is approached (e.g. noise, agent for change, licencing, workspace, venues, meanwhile use) and will replace all the current area plans.
The six-week period of consultation closes on 5 December
Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority are calling for responses and feedback as they say with these consultations, the focus is on the quantity rather quality.
So, the more responses the cultural & creative industries sectors are able to put in, the more likely they will be considered.
Therefore, they are urging live music venues, clubs, restaurants and cultural organisations to submit a response.
“For live music venues, clubs or similar, it would be good for any responses to state that any such policy which seeks to deal with protecting the types of use listed should be in accordance with policy 187 of the National Planning Policy Framework. (This policy deals with the agent of change principle),” said Salla Virman, Senior Policy Officer (Culture) West Midlands Combined Authority.
“It would also be worthwhile seeking to introduce mitigation measures through local plan policies in the event that these types of buildings are permitted a change of use.”
Some of the questions that are potentially most relevant to the sector:
41. Do you think there should be a policy to support the delivery of affordable workspace and other new ways of working? If so, what should this policy be?
42. Do you have any other suggestions or comments about the economy and employment land?
43. What would you like to see more of in your local high street/ centre?
44. Do you think we should have a policy which seeks to protect public houses, theatres, live music venues and night clubs from change of use?
45. Do you think we should have a policy which says where night-time uses should be located and where they should not be?
46. What type of leisure and cultural activities would you like to see more of in the night-time economy?
47. How can the night-time economy be better managed (e.g. noise, transport, safety etc)?
Review the questions and comment on the plan.
West Midlands Music Board 