Music venue noise: a development planning case-study examining the application of the 'Agent Of Change' principle, a novel legal mechanism, and noise control design issues

'Grassroots' music venues play an important role in supporting a rich cultural mix of musical entertainment, which provide community benefits in terms of leisure and wellbeing. However, music events can disturb neighbours and prompt complaints, which may lead to consequences for licensees, and the closure of venues. Recent changes to development planning rights in the UK resulted in residential encroachment on land previously used for other purposes. In some cases, this created problems for music venues nearby, with new residents moving into the area. The reaction from the industry prompted the Government to amend those development rights and, more recently, to incorporate the 'Agent of Change' (AoC) principle into planning policy. Whilst incorporation of AoC was intended to reinforce protection for established venues, the policy itself may fail to provide this in practice. The implementation of the AoC principle has been explored in a recent case-study involving a celebrated grassroots venue. This paper summarises (i) the background and relevant planning issues, (ii) a novel legal mechanism used to enhance the protection of the venue from future action taken by new residents, and (iii) acoustical design and mitigation issues raised during the study, including evaluation of relevant international criteria.