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New government legislation that aims to protect small music venues will be implemented in April.
The new regulations will require property developers that plan to turn an office lock into residential building to seek prior approval from their local authorities on the impact of noise on potential residents.
New residents who complain about noise levels can threaten a venue’s future. This tends to happen more when an office building near a music venue is turned into a residential dwelling.
In London, over a third of grassroots music venues have been closed down in the past eight years. Madame Jojo’s and The Buffalo Bar are amongst the most high profile closures.
The Music Venue Trust, which was created in 2014 to protect the UK live music network, has welcomed the new regulations. CEO of the Music Venue Trust, Mark Davyd, said that the regulations were a “breakthrough for the UK’s grassroots music venues”.
"For music venues, this has never been about stopping development or preventing the creation of much needed new housing," he said. "It's always been about ensuring that new development recognises the culture, economy and vibrancy of city centres by building great housing, enabling existing music venues and new residents to live in harmony."
CEO of UK Music, Jo Dipple said, "If these new regulations have the desired effect, grassroots venues around the UK will have additional powers to help them survive and prosper."
